The Role of Some PGPR Strains to Biocontrol Rhizoctonia Solani in Soybean and Enhancement The Growth Dynamics and Seed Yield

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Agricultural Microbiology, Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

       Damping off is a serious disease that frequently targets the roots of seedlings of many crops and finally brings them to the death. Rhizoctonia solani is one of the most famous plant pathogenic fungi that causes damping off especially in damp environments and consequently reduces significantly the productivity of infected plants. Biocontrol, therefore, is a promising and urgent tool, particularly in organic farming, to minimize the using of fungicides in agricultural sector and keep the environment safe. The current study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of combined inoculation with Methylobacterium strains (Methylobacterium aminovorans and Methylobacterium rhodinum); Bradyrhizobium japonicum (St. 110); Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum; and Trichoderma viride to biocontrol Rhizoctonia solani in soybean seedlings. All treatments decreased damping off and increased the healthy plants.  T5 treatment (inoculation with B. japonicum (St. 110) + M. aminovorans + B. megatherium var. phosphaticum (B6) + T. viride + foliar spray with M. aminovorans) and T6 treatment (inoculation with B. japonicum (St. 110) + M. rhodinum + B. megatherium var. phosphaticum (B6) + T. viride + foliar spray with M. rhodinum) showed increased nodule numbers and dry weight of nodules at 45 and 60 days compared to un-inoculated chemical fertilized control. Significant increase in nitrogen%, phosphorus%, potassium %, number of pods, seed index (g 100 seeds-1) and seed yield (ton ha -1) of soybean plants was observed due to T5 treatment when compared with the control treatment at 30, 60 and harvest. Soil dehydrogenase, urease, and phosphatase activities were also significantly increased due to the treatments T5 and T6.  

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