HEALTHINESS AND YIELDING OF SOYBEAN (GLYCINE-MAX (L) MERRILL) INOCULATED WITH BRADYRHIZOBIUM-JAPONICUM

The purpose of the investigations conducted in the laboratory, in the growth chamber and in field was to determine the effect of 10 strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum on fungi pathogenic to soybean (Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Pho ma exigua var. exigua, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). After 7 days of joint growth (fungus + bacterium strain), a different percent of inhibition of the growth of the pathogenic fungi was observ ed. Within the examined fungi, the species Alternaria alternata and Sc lerotinia sclerotiorum were mostly limited in their growth by the majo rity of the strains, while Fusarium spp. and Rhizoctonia solani to the lowest degree. The results obtained both from growth chamber studies and field studies showed that the strains inhibiting the growth of pat hogenic fungi had a significant positive influence on the emergence, n umber of plants and their yielding. Besides, such strains had a favour able effect on the formed nodules.