Effect of Frankia on Growth and Nodulation in Casuarina equisetifolia

The effect of symbiotic association of three Frankia strains on growth, biomass and nodulation was studied on 10 clones of Casuarinaequisetifolia in a nursery experiment. Significant improvement was observed after 90 days of inoculation with all the Frankia strains. Of them, ORS 020607 was found to be the most effective strain on all the characters studied except ischolar_main length. The most promising association was recorded between strain ORS 020607 and Casuarina clone CHCE890903. Frankia inoculated clones recorded 93, 51 and 116 per cent improvement in shoot length and dry matter production, respectively at 90 days after inoculation.