Compatibility of Most Efficient Rhizobium Strain with Different Seed Dressing Fungicides in Mung Bean Crop

Abstract

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is considered as an important source of nitrogen on earth. Numerous leguminouscrop fix about 200 – 300 kg N/ha.Some microorganisms especially bacteria are able to colonise and fix nitrogen biologically in the soil through symbiotic process. A pot culture experiment was conducted to examine the compatibility of Rhizobium with nine fungicides and their combination used for seed treatment. The combination effects of inoculation with fungicide growth and number of nodules, dry weight of nodules, dry matter parameters etc. were studied. The seed treatment of mungbean seed with copper oxychloride was found most effective among all the seed treatments. Seed treatment with different seed dressing fungicide had no adverse effect on germination, nodulation, yield-attributing characters and grain yield when applied alone or in combination with Rhizobium inoculant, thus, indicating the compatibility amongst all the two components, viz. fungicide and Rhizobium inoculant for seed treatment in (mungbean). Laboratory studies have also shown fungicides containing high levels of metalaxyl or metalaxyl-M have an inhibitory effect on rhizobia and nodulation, and so applying a granular inoculant or liquid or slurry inoculant in furrow is recommended when these fungicides are applied to seed. Treating seed with fungicide before sowing is a common method of protecting seedlings from fungal pathogens.  While some fungicides are toxic to rhizobia, if these toxic effects are avoided, seed applied fungicides can increase plant health and root growth which in turn can benefit nodulation and N fixation. However, where the inoculants applied to seed come in direct contact with the fungicide, toxicity issues can occur.Compatibility