Methylotrophic Bacteria and Rhizobium as Biofertilizers and Biocontrol Agents against Rhizoctonia Root Rot of Faba Bean

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Plant Pathology Research Institute -Agricultural Research Center

2 Soils,Water and Environment research institute,ARC

Abstract

The impact of a combination of methylotrophic bacteria either as seed treatment (Methylobacterium nodulans) or foliar application (Methylobacterium mesophilicum) and Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae for control of Rhizoctonia root rot under greenhouse and field conditions was studied. A mix of rhizobial inoculation (RI) + ⅓ N + M. nodulans significantly decreased the percentage of pre, and post-emergence damping off and caused a significant increase of survived plants, also enhanced crop parameters and yield followed by (a mix of RI + ⅓ N + M. mesophilicum), and Rizolex-T treatments. Meanwhile, the same treatments resulted in increases in NPK contents. All treatments showed an excess in peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities as well as for phenolic contents, the considerable increase was related to a (mix of rhizobial inoculation (RI) + ⅓ N + M. nodulans). All tested rhizobial and methylobacterial strains produce IAA, HCN, and ammonia, they also, were resistant to Ampicillin, and Colistin antibiotics and susceptible to Tetracycline. Eventually, results indicated that the integration of methylotrophic bacteria and Rhizobium in addition to a one-third amount dose of nitrogen fertilization decreased the occurrence of Rhizoctonia root rot as well as the remarkable increase of faba bean yield.

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