Rhizobial survival and nodulation of chickpea as influenced by fungicide seed treatment.
The survival of Rhizobium ciceri on chickpea (Cicer arietinum cv. Myles) seed, treated separately with 1 of 4 commercial fungicides, i.e., Apron, Arrest 75W, Crown, or Captan, was examined under laboratory conditions using standard serial dilution and plate count techniques. The resulting effects of fungicide-Rhizobium interactions on nodulation, N2 fixation, and plant growth were assessed in a controlled environment. Fungicide treatment decreased the number of viable rhizobia on the seed. In general, the toxicity of the fungicides in terms of rhizobial viability increased in the following order: Control = Crown < Arrest = Apron < Captan. Although Crown had no effect on rhizobial viability assessed under laboratory conditions, it significantly reduced nodulation, percent N derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa), and shoot dry matter. Seed treated with Arrest and Captan decreased nodule dry weight and %Ndfa, but only Arrest reduced dry matter yield. Apron had no effect on any of the parameters measured at the early pod-filling stage and was compatible with the chickpea inoculum used in this study.
Kyei-Boahen
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Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Slinkard
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Walley
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D029863:Cicer / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation / Q000187:drug effects; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects*
D005659:Fungicides, Industrial