Identification of inoculant strains and naturalized populations ofRhizobium leguminosarum bvtrifolii using complementary methodologies.

Introduced clovers (Trifolium repens andTrifolium subterraneum) fall to persist more than two years in Uruguayan improved pastures. Three strains of naturalizedRhizobium leguminosarum bvtrifolii, isolated from persistent clover pastures inoculated several years ago, and two commercial inoculant strains have been identified. Serological techniques (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-ELISA) and total cell protein pattern have been selected as sensitive and reliable methods for strain identification. Indirect ELISA was suitable for detecting rhizobia in cultures or in nodules. Two of the naturalized strains had distinct protein profiles but they could not be differentiated by the immunological method with a polyclonal antibody.