Evaluation of Nitrogen Fixation between Supernodulating Soybean Mutants and their Wild-Types Using $^{15}N$ in Field Conditions

Improvement of $N_2$ fixation by symbiotic rhizobia is considered an effective means for enhancing its productivity without high input of nitrogen(N) fertilizer. Several methods to improve $N_2$ fixation have been proposed including the use of supernodulating mutants. The objective of this research was to identify the varietal difference in N and $N_2$-fixation ability among the soybean supernodulating mutants, SS2-2 and Sakukei 4, with different nodulation abilities using $^{15}N$ in field conditions in both Korea and Japan. The dry weight(DW) was higher in wild-type soybeans. The distribution rate of DW in each plant part was high in seeds of supernoduating and wild-type soybeans but high in stems and leaves of non-nodulating mutants. Although the supernodulating mutants had a low DW rate at maturity, they showed a similar $N_2$ fixation ability compared with wild-type. Supernodulating mutant plants mainly obtained N from $N_2$ fixation, while soil N was the main resource for obtaining N in non-nodulating mutants. The percentage of N derived from atmospheric dinitrogen(Ndfa) was higher in supernodulating mutants than in wild-type and relatively high in seeds between plant parts at maturity. In particular, supernodulating mutants showed higher N content in roots than those of wild-type and non-nodulating mutants. It was considered that supernodulating mutants have the advantage of saving nitrate in soil and being beneficial for N absorption of subsequent crops due to their conserving more N in the field and releasing considerable amounts of N from roots and leaves fallen to the soil.