2.7.21
EFFECT OF COMBINED INOCULATION OF RHIZOBIUM, GLOMUS FASCICULATUM AND A PATHOGEN, SCLEROTIUM ROLFSII, ON GROWTH OF GREEN GRAM, (VIGNA RADIATA (L.) WILCZEK)

RR MALLIKARJUNALH and DM JAVOOR

Department of Microbiology, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore 560065, India

Background and objectives
Soil is the basis for agriculture. Soil microbes impose physiological and nutritional control on the growth of green plants and they are regarded as powerful determinants of food production. Greengram is an important pulse crop in India since the dry seed contains 24% protein and hence provides a good protein substitute for vegetarians. Root rot Sclerotium rolfsii is a serious disease of this crop. The beneficial effect of Rhizobium and VA-mycorrhizal fungus is well known on crop production; this may be due to nitrogen fixation, phosphorous uptake, production of plant growth hormones and fungistatic substances [1,2]. The present study was conducted to examine the feasibility of these cultures on crop yield and pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii with the objectives of investigating the use of Rhizobium and VA-mycorrhiza as a means of nitrogen and phosphorous supply to the crop and determining the combined effect of Rhizobium, VA-mycorrhiza and Sclerotium rolfsii on crop production.

Results and conclusions
The results clearly indicate the beneficial effect of Rhizobium and Glomus fasciculatum on plant parameters such as nodule number, better mycorrhizal colonization, chlamadospore formation, plant height, plant biomass, rhizosphere microflora and nitrogen and phosphorous contents, even in the presence of Sclerotium rolfsii.

References
1. Chakraborthy U, Purkayastha RP, 1984. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 30, 285-289.
2. Dehne HM, Schonbeck F, 1979. Phytopathologische Zeitung 95, 105-110.