Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) Suppressed Fungal Disease Incidence, Severity and Population of Nematode on Soybean (Glycine max) L.

Abstract

Background and Objective: There has been intriguing nutrient soil conservation status associated with mycorrhizal fungus associations with plants. The influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus (AMF) Glomus mosseae on disease incidence and severity, nematode population and residual nutrient on soybean was investigated under both screenhouse and field conditions. This was with the view to providing information on the bio protective potential of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi. Materials and Methods: Inoculation of G. mosseae, S. rolfsii and M. incognita singly and simultaneously near root zones of soybean seedlings was carried out 2 weeks after planting. Symptomological characteristics were taken two weeks after inoculation till maturity. Soils samples were analyzed for nutrient and nematode population before planting and at harvest. Results: Soybean plants inoculated with either Sclerotium rolfsii or Meloidogyne incognita (pathogens) alone expressed higher disease incidence than mycorrhizal plants. The combined application of G. mosseae, S. rolfsii and M. incognita caused a significant reduction in nematode population while plants inoculated with M. incognita alone had the highest population in both sites of studies. Residual phosphorus and nitrogen were obtained in soil treated with mycorrhiza. Conclusion: This study shows that mycorrhizal inoculation could be used as a bio-protective agent to suppress the incidence and severity of S. rolfsii and M. incognita infection in soybean.