Improved Growth Medium for Industrial Production of Rhizobium japonicum strain Soil-18

Abstract

Yeast-extract mannitol is generally accepted as a traditional medium for growth of Rhizobium japonicum. Some components of this medium may not be optimal for the growth of specific strain of R. japonicum and it may be quite expensive, especially in the developing countries. The use of low cost materials to substitute these components may lead to an economic production of rhizobial cells, leading to the large-scale production of inoculant. This study was an attempt to produce cells of R. japonicum strain Soil-18 using some low cost materials readily available in the country and to optimate the growth of the rhizobial strain.