Nodulation and root traits in four grasspea (Lathyrus sativus) ecotypes under root-zone temperatures

In order to study the effect of four Root-Zone Temperatures (RZT) (5, 10, 15 and 25 degrees C) on nodulation and nitrogen percent of four grasspea ecotypes (ardabil, zanjan, mashhad and sharkord), an experiment was conducted in a controlled-environmental chamber in 2005. There were differences (p < 0.01) among ecotypes, RZT and ecotypes *RZT for root length, forage dry matter, root dry matter, nodule dry weight, nodule number, nodule cluster number, nodule cluster diameter, nodule diameter, nodule distribution (root length that has nodule) and plant nitrogen percent. Mashad and ardabil ecotypes produced the most and least nodule number at 25 and 5 degrees C, respectively. The maximum and minimum nodule cluster number were observed in ardabil ecotype under 25 and 5 degrees C RZT, respectively. Root distribution was the most and the least in mashhad and ardabil ecotypes under 25 and 5 degrees C RZT, respectively. Ardabil produced the highest dry nodule weight at 25 degrees C RZT. The least dry nodule weight was belonged to ardabil ecotype under 5 degrees C RZT. Plant nitrogen percent was the highest in ardabile ecotype at 15 degrees C RZT and the lowest in mashhad ecotype under 5 degrees C RZT. This experiment showed that at low RZT (i.e., 5 and 10 degrees C) none of ecotypes had preferred on other ecotypes in point of view measured traits except nodule diameter. Ardabile and mashhad ecotypes were better than other ecotypes at 15 and 25 degrees C RZT respectively for most traits.