Pyruvic acid and O-acetyl groups are the major noncarbohydrate substituents in exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by fast-growing species of Rhizobium. EPS substituent variations were observed among strains of the same species. The amounts of these substituents also varied with culture age; pyruvic acid increased in the EPS of all four species, whereas O-acetyl increased in Rhizobium trifolii an...

Growth and survival of two rhizobial strains, Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii, and Mesorhizobium ciceri, were used to evaluate residues from the cork industry as potential carriers for production of rhizobial inoculants. A peat-based carrier was used as a control. 41 days after inoculation, the number of viable bacteria was high, about 109 bacteria g-1 for all carriers. Rhizobial survival ...