EFFECT OF RHIZOBIUM ON THE INTERACTION OF VESICULAR - ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE AND ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE ON BLACKGRAM (VIGNA MUNGO)

Abstract

The effect of Rhizobium on the interaction of the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (Glomus fasciculatum and G. mosseae) and the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita on blackgram was investigated in a pot experiment. The interaction of Rhizobium with VAM and the nematode resulted in a significant increase in the growth parameters of blackgram. The highest root nodulation was recorded in plants inoculated with Rhizobium and G. mosseae. Inoculation of M. incognita reduced the number of nodules per plant whereas the combination of Rhizobium + G. mosseae + M. incognita resulted in increased nodules and was similar to the Rhizobium + G. mosseae treatment. The combination of Rhizobium and VAM resulted in the least nematode population density and in the maximum spore, mycorrhizal colonization, total nitrogen and phosphorus content of blackgram.