LAUSR

The effect of the water deficit on the fresh and dry weight in the various parts of the plant and on several mineral processes in different symbiotic combinations for the chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties was studied. The experiment was undertaken in the greenhouse during five weeks. Seedlings were separately inoculated with a suspension of three rhizobia strains and were grown under water deficit (50% of field capacity). Our results showed that the inoculation with the adequate rhizobia may improve the chickpea dry weight by improving the nodules weight, increase NR activity and more K accumulation under water deficit. Generally, MC0415 (S1) strain gives the best results, particularly in the dry weight nodules (5% of reduction) and in parallel higher NR activity was notedinthenodule systems (0.8±0.02 μmol NO2 g FWh) with the combination V46-S1. We note a strong correlation between the dry weights of the various parts of the plantand the studied variables (NRA, Na+, andK+).