Effect of fungicides on the efficacy of Rhizobium meliloti and Bradyrhizobium sp., in the control of root infecting fungi on chickpea

Bradyrhizobium sp., with Benlate or Bavistin and Rhizobium meliloti isolates with Captan or Topsin-M showed better control of Fusarium solani infection on chickpea roots than their separate use. Bradyrhizobium sp., (Mungbean isolate) with Bavistin showed complete control of Macrophomina phaseolina infection, whereas Captan was found more effective against Rhizoctonia solani infection when used alone or with rhizobia. Maximum number of nodules per plant was produced by Bradyrhizobium sp., (TAL-620, chickpea isolate) used with Benlate or Bavistin. Some rhizobial isolates also significantly (p<0.05) enhanced plant height when used with Benlate, Bavistin or Topsin-M.