International Science Community Association Research Journal of Recent Sciences 2277-2502 7 8 2018 08 2 Isolation and characterization of plant growth promoting non-rhizobial Root nodule bacteria of major legumes in Malawi 24 29 EN Bernard NDOKI 1 Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés Industriels, ENSP, UMNG, BP 69, Brazzaville, Congo Laurent Matini 2 Laboratoire de Chimie, ENS, UMNG, BP 69, Brazzaville, Congo Marie Moutou Joseph 3 Laboratoire de Chimie, ENS, UMNG, BP 69, Brazzaville, Congo and Laboratoire de Chimie Minérale et Appliquée, FST, UMNG, BP 69, Brazzaville, Congo Grace IFO 4 Laboratoire de Chimie Minérale et Appliquée, FST, UMNG, BP 69, Brazzaville, Congo Rai Pratap 1 Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, College of Science and Technology, Phuentsholing, Bhutan Zangmo Tshering 2 Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, College of Science and Technology, Phuentsholing, Bhutan Samal Purna B. 3 Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, College of Science and Technology, Phuentsholing, Bhutan Tshering Cheten 1 Electronics and Communication Engineering Department, College of Science and Technology Rinchenching: Phuntsholing, Bhutan Tshering Dawa 2 Electronics and Communication Engineering Department, College of Science and Technology Rinchenching: Phuntsholing, Bhutan Mwafulirwa Samuel 1 Ministry of Agriculture, Chitedze Agricultural Research Station box 158, Lilongwe, Malawi Samson Shanmuga Priya 2 Malawi University of Science and Technology, P.O BOX 5196, Limbe, Malawi Nkasala Emanuel Mpumulo 3 Ministry of Agriculture, Chitedze Agricultural Research Station box 158, Lilongwe, Malawi Kanyada Fortune 4 Department of Forest, Kasungu District Office, P.O BOX 314 Kasungu, Malawi > Short Communication 2018 3 28 2018 08 2 Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) are important microorganisms inoculated into agricultural land and act positively to crop production to achieve sustainable agriculture. Rhizobium inoculation is the most commonly used PGPR for production of legumes. However, isolation, reproducibility, competitive survivability and efficacy of rhizobial inoculation need understanding of their compatibility in natural state. To address the problem research has shown that inoculation of nonrhizobial nodule-associated bacteria acts positively on plant growth and nodulation when coinoculated with rhizobia. This study investigated nonrhizobial nodule-associated bacteria for legume crops grown in Malawi. Microbes were isolated from root nodules using yeast extract mannitol agar supplemented with congo red. Biochemical test and genetic characterization using 16S rDNA gene were used for strain identification which was supplemented by testing for the presence of Plant Growth Promoting Traits (PGPT). Results showed diversity of gram-negative nonrhizobial nodule-associated bacteria in the genus of Klebsiella, Leclercia, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas and Enterococcus. Isolated microbes were not host specific and have PGPT. The study puts assumption that these nonrhizobial nodule-associated bacteria isolates are not crop specific but site specific and are responsible for increase in yield, yield components and nitrogen fixation in legume production. Copyright@ International Science Community Association