Subpellicel characteristics of isolated diazotrophic bacteria were observed in N-free semisolid medium inoculated
with surface sterilized mature seeds, leaves, stems and root samples from six samples of different highland rice landraces.
The population size of EDB in various parts and growth stages of these highland rice landraces ranged from
1.81±0.3 to 4.79±0.4 log MPN g−1 fresh tissue (Fig. 1). The highest population density of EDB from all rice samples
was found in the root tissues at nursery stage, whereas the lowest population density was found in mature seeds
from all rice cultivars. The EDB population density at all growth stages of the rice cultivars BP1, BP2, BPT2 and
BPD was lower in leaves than in stems.