Due to the growing US Hispanic population, there is an agricultural incentive to grow the El Salvadoran leguminous herb "Chipilin" (Crotalaria longirostrata) on New England farms. Legumes require a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia in order to utilize atmospheric nitrogen. However, it is not known which strains of rhizobia are appropriate for establishing nitrogen-fixing nodules in Chipilin. Six strains of rhizobia were evaluated for increased plant yield and decreased nitrogen application. Upon harvest, Western Blotting was used to successfully probe for leghemoglobin, a protein indicator of nitrogen fixation.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Bisson, Andrea Lynn
• Mason, Tamara Cathrine

Contributors

• Mangan, Frank

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042810-163614

Advisor

• Hunter, Allison
• Buckholt, Michael Allan

Year

• 2010

Sponsor

• Dr. Frank Mangan, University of Massachusetts Amhe

Date created

• 2010-04-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-09-11