Effect of pesticides on growth of rhizobia and their host plants during symbiosis.

Effect of various pesticides (insecticides, fungicides and herbicides) has been studied on growth and efficiency of symbiotic properties of 3 fast growing Rhizobium sp. under green house conditions. The results revealed adverse effects on plant growth and nitrogen fixing capacity as measured by dry weight and total nitrogen content of plants infected with pesticide treated Rhizobium. Of the pesticides tested, herbicides were found to be more effective on the above parameters than the insecticides and fungicides.