EFFECT OF BRADYRHIZOBIUM-JAPONICUM AND FUNGICIDES IN THE CONTROL OF ROOT-ROT DISEASE OF SOYBEAN

Seed dressing of soybean with Bradyrhizobium japonicum alone or mixed with different concentration of fungicides viz., benlate, dithane, bav istin and vitavax showed significant (p<0.001) protection of roots fro m infection of Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusariu m spp. Use of B.japonicum with benlate or bavistin against Fusarium sp p., and M.phaseolina and with dithane against Fusarium spp., were more effective than their separate use. B.japonicum used with bavistin (@ 2500 a.i.) showed highest number of nodules per plant. Plant height in creased over untreated control where seeds were treated with B.japonic um, benlate, bavistin or dithane or fungicides mixed with B.japonicum.