Bioactivity of Glomus mosseae (arbuscular mycorrhiza) on Soybean Infected with Sclerotium rolfsii and Meloidogyne incognita
Bamigboye, R.A. and Salami, A.O.
Department of Crop Production and Protection, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Correspondence: bamigboyeadebola@yahoo.com; Tel: 08139345751
Accepted on June 30, 2012
Abstract
This study investigated the bioactivity of Glomus mosseae (arbuscular mycorrhiza) and Meloidogyne incognita on two soybean cultivars and also assessed their interactive effects on soybean. Two soybean cultivars (TGX1903-7F and TGX1449) known to be susceptible to the test pathogens were sown in sterilized soil in a greenhouse. Pots were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design. Inoculations with arbuscular mycorrhiza and the pathogens near the root zones of soybean plants were carried out two weeks after planting. The parameters measured are fresh shoot weight, dry shoot weight, number of pods, pod weight and grain weight. Data were taken at two weeks interval after inoculation till maturity. Also, field experiments were conducted during the late cropping seasons of 2008 and 2009 at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching and Research Farm, Ile-Ife. Treatments, inoculation and data collection were carried out in the greenhouse. Data collected were analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at P = 0.05. Inoculation of soybean plants with G. mosseae alone gave the highest fresh shoot, dry shoot weight, nodule number and weight, and grain weight. The least fresh shoot weight, dry shoot weight, nodule number and grain weight were obtained from soybean cultivars treated with pathogens alone. Numbers of pods in soybean plants treated with G.mosseae alone were significantly higher compared with other treatments on the field. The application of mycorrhiza reduced disease severity, improved growth and grain weight of soybean.