Bioagents and fungicides for the management of seed and seedling diseases of soybean.

An experiment was conducted at Seed Research and Technology Centre, ANGRAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during 2006-‘07, to study the effect of seed treatments using bioagents and fungicides on seed quality, 100-seed weight and yield for the management of seedling diseases of soybean. The seeds of soybean cv. JS 335 were treated with Bacillus subtilis (6 g/kg), Pseudomonas fluorescens (6 g/kg), B. subtilis + P. fluorescens (6 g/kg), Trichoderma viride (6 g/kg), T. harzianum (6g/kg), thiram + carbendazim (2 g/kg) along with untreated seed were tested under Laboratory and field conditions. The results revealed that significant increase in germination (91%), seed vigour (2630) and less number of fungal colonies (Nil) was recorded in thiram+ carbendazim followed by T. viride (91%, 2601 and 5%) over untreated seeds (77%, 2470&20%), respectively. Thiram + carbendazim or T. viride seed treatments were also found effective in reducing seedling diseases (8.8% & 10.07%) during Kharif 2006 and 2007. These seed treatments were also found effective in increasing field emergence (81and 78%), 100 seed weight (12.37 and 12.31g) and yield in kg/ha (1813 and 1697) over untreated seeds (63%, 11.25g and 1028, respectively). Seed treatments with bioagents and fungicides while significantly bringing down seed borne fungi and seedling mortality both under Laboratory and field conditions, enhanced seed quality, germination, vigour and yield.