Inoculant made of encapsulated Frankia: assessment of Frankia growth within alginate beads

The growth of Frankia cells within alginate beads was inhibited when the amount encapsulated exceeded 0.5 to 2.5 μg protein/ml of beads. Frankia growth was observed not only in the beads incubated in nutrient media (with of without combined N), but also in those incubated in air provided they retained enough nutrients. The results allow some recommendations to be made for the preparation of Frankia inoculants.