Effect of seed treatment with Rhizobium leguminosarum on Pythium damping-off, seedling height, root nodulation, root biomass, shoot biomass, and seed yield of pea and lentil

Field experiments were conducted in 2004 and 2005 to determine the effects of seed treatment with Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae on damping-off, seedling height, root nodule mass, root biomass, shoot biomass and seed yield of pea and lentil in a field naturally infested with Pythium spp. Compared with the untreated controls, treatment of pea seeds with R. leguminosarum bv. viceae strains R12, R20 or R21 significantly (P < 0.05) reduced incidence of damping-off, promoted seedling growth and increased root nodule mass, root biomass and shoot biomass. Seed treatments with R12 or R21 also resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) increase in seed yield of pea. The strain R21 was most effective among the four strains of R. leguminosarum bv. viceae tested in peas. Although, the level of disease control by strain R21 was similar to seed treatment with the fungicide ThiramTM, R21 was more effective in enhancing root nodule production and promoting plant growth. For lentil, treatment of seeds with R. leguminosarum bv. viceae strains R12 or R21 significantly (P < 0.05) reduced incidence of damping-off compared with the untreated control. All of the four strains of R. leguminosarum bv. viceae tested increased lentil seedling height, root nodule mass and shoot biomass, and all except R20 increased root biomass. Seed yield was higher for the treatments of R12 and R21. The strain R12 was most effective among the four strains of R. leguminosarum bv. viceae tested in lentil. Although, strain R12 was as effective as ThiramTM for control of damping-off of lentil, it was more effective than ThiramTM for the production of root nodules and promotion of plant growth. The study concludes that seed treatment with R. leguminosarum bv. viceae is effective in control of Pythium damping-off of pea and lentil and that the efficacy of control is strain specific, strain R21 for control of the disease on pea and strain R12 for control of the disease on lentil. © 2007 Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food.