Maxim XL Research Articles

Viability of Nodule Bacteria Bradyrhizobium japonicummon Soybean Seeds by Treatment With Fungicides During Extended Storage

Background. With the increase in soybean cultivation areas, inoculants are becoming increasingly sought after. They are not only compatible with the original preparations for seed treatment of soybean but also offer the possibility of applying them for several days or even months before sowing into the soil. Objective. The viability of new strains of nodule bacteria Bradyrhizobium japonicum (strain PC07 and strain B78) was investigated on the surface of soybean seeds treated with fungicides Fever and Maxim XL during the extended storage of inoculated seeds. Additionally, their ability for nitrogen fixation under symbiotic conditions was evaluated. Methods. Сultivation, serial dilution method, determination of bacterial titer of inoculants, quantification of colony forming units (CFU), gas chromatography. Results. In laboratory conditions, on the soybean seeds of Almaz and Vasylkivska varieties, the viability of the nodule bacteria B. japonicum PC07 and B78, which are more resistant to the active substances of these fungicides in pure culture, decreased. This reduction was dependent on the storage period, the fungicide used, and the strain of inoculant. One day after inoculation on the seeds without the use of fungicide, 68.6–75.4% CFU of the initial number was retained. Seeds treated with the fungicide Fever contained 36.5–38.3% CFU, and those treated with Maxim XL contained 26.2–27.0% CFU. The use of inoculants based on fungicide-resistant strains of B. japonicum PC07 and B78 also provided high cell viability – 2.41–2.8×106 (on the seeds without treatment), 1.40–1.70×106 (with Fever) and 0.8–1.17×106 (with Maxim XL) CFU/seed after 5 days of storage. The nitrogen-fixing activity of root nodules in soybean plants of Almaz and Vasylkivska varieties, whose seeds were treated with Fever, decreased on both varieties by 18.4–22.4% and 32.1–39.5%, respectively and for treatment with Maxim XL, the reduction was 24.5–33.7% and 47.7–75.2%, respectively, during the storage of seeds for 5 and 7 days before sowing, compared to control variants (seeds without fungicide treatment). Conclusions. The utilization of fungicide-resistant strains of B. japonicum PC07 and B78 for bacterization of soybean seeds treated with fungicides Fever and Maxim XL provides a high inoculation titer during 5 days of storage. Viability of microbial cells on seeds treated with fungicides significantly diminishes during storage for more than 7–14 days. Insufficient titer of CFU of B. japonicum strains PC07 and B78 on the seed surface after 14 days of storage can considerably impede the efficacy of biopreparations. Therefore, it is crucial to seek substances that can enhance the resistance of rhizobia on seeds to the adverse effects of fungicide seed treatment, ensuring a longer period of their viability.

Формирование урожайности зерна люпина узколистного в зависимости от предпосевной обработки семян и нормы высева

To solve the problem of providing livestock with balanced feed, it is necessary to introduce into production the cultivation of leguminous crops that effectively use the bioclimatic potential of the zone. The aim of the work is to evaluate the effectiveness of pre-sowing seed treatment in the formation of agrocenoses of narrow-leaved lupine. The study was carried out in 2020-2022 on the experimental field of the educational, scientific and industrial complex "Agrotechnopark" of the Udmurt State Agrarian University in accordance with generally accepted methods and guidelines. The soil of the experimental plots is soddy-podzolic medium loamy with low and medium content of humus (1,8–2,3 %), mobile phosphorus - high (193-282 mg/kg), mobile potassium - high and very high (200-272 mg/kg ). The exchange acidity of the soil is from medium acid to close to neutral reaction (5,0-5,6). Be-fore sowing, the seeds were treated with the inoculant Rizotorfin (Rhizobium lupine) (1 l/t), plant growth regulator Melafen (5 ml/t), complex fertilizer Agree's Forsage (2 l/t), fungicide Maxim XL (0,4 l/t), complex fertilizer Agree's Forsage together with plant growth regulator Melafen, fungicide Maxim XL together with plant growth regulator Melafen, fungicide Maxim XL together with complex fertilizer Agree's Forsage. The untreated variant was taken as a control. The seeding rate is 1.0 million, 1.2 million, 1,4 million. Based on the experimental data obtained, the efficiency of pre-sowing seed treatment, which can be recommended to agricultural production to increase the productivity of narrow-leaved lupine, was revealed. Formation of the highest yield of narrow-leaved lupine 1,54-1.62 t/ha was obtained when pre-sowing seed treatment with complex fertilizer Agree's Forsage and its joint use with plant growth regulator Melafen and fungicide Maxim XL. The effectiveness of pre-sowing seed treatment is confirmed by a weak relationship between grain yield and root rot (r = -0,08±0,10). Keywords: NARROW-LEAVED LUPIN, PRE-SOWING TREATMENT OF SEEDS, SEEDING RATE, ROOT ROT, YIELD

Seed dressing with M451 promotes seedling growth in wheat and reduces root phytopathogenic fungi without affecting endophytes.

Fungal plant infections result in substantial losses to the agricultural sector. A range of fungicide seed dressings are available to control seed-borne fungal diseases; however, they lack sufficient efficacy because of intrinsic tolerance and acquired resistance. Moreover, many fungicide seed dressings can also penetrate plants, negatively affecting plant growth owing to their toxic effects on endophytes, as well as contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of M451, a member of a new class of antimicrobial agents that are not relevant to human healthcare. As a seed dressing for wheat seeds, M451 exhibited significant antifungal activity against one of the most devastating plant fungal pathogens, Fusarium spp. Furthermore, M451 was more active than the commercially used fungicide Maxim XL against both seed-borne and soil-borne F. oxysporum infection. Importantly, and unlike other antifungals, M451 seed dressing did not inhibit any of the major characteristics of wheat grains and seedlings, such as germination percentage, germination time, grain vigor, shoot- and root weight and length, but rather improved some of these parameters. The results also demonstrated that M451 had no negative impacts on endophytes and did not accumulate in grains. Thus, M451 may have potential applications as an antifungal agent in wheat cultivation.

Сomparative evaluation of different soy protection schemes

Goal. Evaluate the effectiveness of various soybean protection schemes using preventive measures for seedlings and control measures during the growing season.
 Methods. Field, phytopathological, herbological, mathematical and statistical. According to the first protection scheme, the seeds were treated comprehensively with Maxim XL 035 FS (fludioxonil, 25 g/l + metalaxyl-M, 10 g/l) fungicide, 0.5 l/t, Taboo s.c. (imidacloprid, 500 g/l) insecticide, 0.5 l/t and Biomag-Soya (Bradirhizobium japonicum) biological product, village, 2.5 l/t. Harnes c.e. (acetochlor, 900 g/l), herbicide was applied during sowing with a consumption rate of 2.0 l/ha. According to the second scheme during the growing season herbicides Bazagran, l.c. (bentazone, 480 g/l) with a rate of 2.5 l/ha and Panther, c.e., 1.0 l/ha (quizalofop-P-tefuril, 40 g/l) in the phase of 3—4 true leaves in culture. Against diseases in the budding phase — the beginning of flowering and at the beginning of bean formation was sprayed with fungicide systemic contact action Amistar Extra 280 SC (cyproconazole, 200 g/l + azoxystrobin, 80 g/l), 0.75 l/ha. The quantitative and species composition of weeds in the experimental plots, the infestation of phytopathogens of soybean plants, the effectiveness of drugs in various protection schemes, crop yield were determined.
 Results. Both protection schemes effectively controlled weed infestation and disease. The first protection scheme proved to be more effective against dicotyledonous weeds: the effectiveness 60 days after herbicide application was 95.4% versus 82% according to the second scheme. Cereal weeds were more effectively controlled during the growing season. Protection of soybeans against Alternaria was almost equally effective in both schemes. Soybean downy mildew more effectively limited fungicidal treatments during the growing season. Under both protection schemes, soybeans yielded significantly higher yields than controls. However, yields, number of beans per plant and weight of 1000 grains were higher in the first scheme compared to the second protection scheme.
 Conclusions. Both protection schemes provided high weed and disease control rates during the soybean growing season. Differences in the control of different biological groups of weeds and different types of diseases are obviously related to the peculiarities of the use and toxic effects of the drugs used. However, the application of a system of preventive protection measures can reduce the pesticide load on the agrocenosis and limit the negative impact of pesticides on soybean plants during the growing season.

Trichogenic Silver-Based Nanoparticles for Suppression of Fungi Involved in Damping-Off of Cotton Seedlings.

Mycogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) produced by some biocontrol agents have shown the ability to inhibit the growth of numerous plant pathogenic fungi, which may be a unique method of disease management. This study describes the extracellular production of AgNPs by Trichoderma harzianum. The size, shape, charge, and composition of the AgNPs were subsequently studied by UV-visible spectroscopy, DLS, zeta potential, TEM, SEM, and EDX, among other methods. The AgNPs had sizes ranging from 6 to 15 nm. The antifungal activities of bio-synthesized AgNPs and two commercial fungicides (Moncut and Maxim XL) were tested against three soil-borne diseases (Fusarium fujikuroi, Rhizoctonia solani, and Macrophomina phaseolina). Cotton seedling illnesses were significantly reduced under greenhouse settings after significant in vitro antifungal activity was documented for the control of plant pathogenic fungi. The use of biocontrol agents such as T. harzianum, for example, may be a safe strategy for synthesizing AgNPs and using them to combat fungus in Egyptian cotton.

Trichoderma harzianum-Mediated ZnO Nanoparticles: A Green Tool for Controlling Soil-Borne Pathogens in Cotton.

ZnO-based nanomaterials have high antifungal effects, such as inhibition of growth and reproduction of some pathogenic fungi, such as Fusarium sp., Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina. Therefore, we report the extracellular synthesis of ZnONPs using a potential fungal antagonist (Trichoderma harzianum). ZnONPs were then characterized for their size, shape, charge and composition by visual analysis, UV–visible spectrometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The TEM test confirmed that the size of the produced ZnONPs was 8–23 nm. The green synthesized ZnONPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies to reveal the functional group attributed to the formation of ZnONPs. For the first time, trichogenic ZnONPs were shown to have fungicidal action against three soil–cotton pathogenic fungi in the laboratory and greenhouse. An antifungal examination was used to evaluate the bioactivity of the mycogenic ZnONPs in addition to two chemical fungicides (Moncut and Maxim XL) against three soil-borne pathogens, including Fusarium sp., Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina. The findings of this study show a novel fungicidal activity in in vitro assay for complete inhibition of fungal growth of tested plant pathogenic fungi, as well as a considerable reduction in cotton seedling disease symptoms under greenhouse conditions. The formulation of a trichogenic ZnONPs form was found to increase its antifungal effect significantly. Finally, the utilization of biocontrol agents, such as T. harzianum, could be a safe strategy for the synthesis of a medium-scale of ZnONPs and employ it for fungal disease control in cotton.

Realization of protective and symbiotic properties of soybeans using fungicide seed treatment

Aim. The elaboration of efficient legume-rhizobial symbiosis systems, involving active strains of nodule bacteria, in the combination with fungicide seed treatment may be an alternative method of providing ecologically friendly nitrogen sources to plants and promoting their tolerance to the external factors, which is relevant for preservation and restoration of envi- ronmental quality. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the impact of pre-sowing seed treatment with fungi- cides, which differ in the action spectrum of active substances – Standak Top (fipronil, 250 g/l, thiophanate-methyl, 225 g/l, pyraclostrobin, 25 g/l) and Maxim XL (fludioxonyl, 25 g/l, metalaxyl, 10 g/l), on the intensity of the development of lipid peroxidation processes, the activity of antioxidant enzyme ascorbate peroxidase and nitrogen fixation activity in soybeans on the early stages of forming legume-rhizobial symbiosis. Methods. Microbiological (cultivation of a bacterial culture, seed inoculation), physiological (vegetative experiment), biochemical (spectrophotometric determination of the content of lipid peroxidation products and the activity of ascorbate peroxidase; measuring the nitrogen-fixation activity using a gas chro- matography). Results. It was found that pre-sowing fungicide treatment of soybean seeds and subsequent inoculation with active rhizobia of strain 634b did not result in the change in the content of TBA-active products in roots and root nodules (the values of indices were within the experiment deviation). At the same time, after seed inoculation using rhizobia and treat- ment with Maxim XL, there was an increase in the activity of ascorbate peroxidase in the roots from 20.3 to 30.8 %, and with Standak Top – from 20.0 to 29.8 % during the early stages of ontogenesis till the formation of the third ternate leaf. Here, the activity of the enzyme in root nodules increased by 24.7–40.3 % at the fungicidal effect. Our data demonstrate that the combination of fungicide seed treatment and inoculation with active rhizobia does not induce lipid peroxidation processes, but promotes the initiation of protective antioxidant properties in soybeans. It is accompanied with efficient functioning of the symbiotic apparatus, which is manifested in the increase in nitrogen-fixing activity of nodule bacteria, formed by active rhizobia of strain 634b after the seed treatment with Standak Top – by 98.3 and 78.1 % and after Maxim XL – by 78.6 and 196.2 % respectively, during the stages of the second and third ternate leaves. Conclusions. The pre-sowing soybean seed treatment with fungicides Standak Top and Maxim XL and the subsequent inoculation with active rhizobia of strain 634b does not induce the development of lipid peroxidation processes, but increases the activity of the antioxidant enzyme, ascor- bate peroxidase, in the roots and root nodules, which is accompanied with the efficient work of the symbiotic apparatus on the early stages of determining legume-rhizobial symbiosis. This method of seed treatment may be a novel measure, to use in the technologies of cultivating soybeans to enhance the realization of the symbiotic potential and meet the needs of plants in ecologically friendly nitrogen, and to promote the formation of their tolerance to the corresponding cultivation conditions.

Seed treatment for controlling damping-off caused by Globisporangium irregulare and Globisporangium ultimum var. sporangiiferum in soybean from southern Brazil

Globisporangium irregulare and G. ultimum var. sporangiiferum were recently reported to be associated with soybean damping-off in Brazil. Currently, there is no known information about fungicide seed treatments for soybean. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of commercial fungicide-based products to control soybean damping-off caused by G. irregulare and G. ultimum var. sporangiiferum. The experiments were performed with 15 seed treatments (non-treated check, Certeza N, Apron RFC, Maxim, Maxim XL, Maxim Quattro, Maxim Advanced, Vitavax Thiram, Standak Top, Spectro, Verango, Derosal Plus, Carbendazim, Attic and Rancona T) and two soybean cultivars (‘DM57i52’ and ‘NEO530’). In vitro assays were performed to verify the effect of seed treatments on seed germination and seed rot, whereas growth chamber assays were conducted to evaluate the effect of seed treatments on emergence, root rot and seedling dry mass. Products that contain metalaxyl-M were the most effective at controlling damping-off caused by G. irregulare and G. utimum var. sporangiiferum followed by products that contain thiram. Overall, Apron RFC, Maxim Advanced and Maxim Quattro had higher efficacy to reduce damping-off caused by either G. irregulare or G. ultimum var. sporangiiferum therefore, can be recommended for seed treatment of soybean.

Sensitivity of phytopathogenic and nodule bacteria of soybeans to microelements preparations obtained by electropulse ablation

Qualitative and quantitative characteristics of soybean yields largely depend on the effectiveness of measures against pathogens caused by phytopathogenic bacteria, which lead to the loss of 30-40% of grain yield. One of the elements of biologization is the use of trace elements in the cultivation of soybeans. The work has been devoted to determining the sensitivity of highly active strains of nodule bacteria and representatives of pathogens of soybean bacteriosis to trace elements preparations Dobrodiy Comfort and Dobrodiy Comfort-Copper, which were obtained by electropulse ablation, and comparing their action with traditional chemical pesticides. For comparison, the drugs of traditional cultivation of soybeans have been used: Rankona, Maxim XL, Rydomil Gold, Propuls. Classical microbiological, phytopathological, statistical method shas been used in the work. In particular, the reliability of the influence of factors has been established by the value of the probability level "p", which was calculated using the program STATISTICA 8. The obtained results have indicated a high sensitivity of yellow pigment pathogens of soybean bacteriosis to preparations Dobrodiy Comfort and Dobrodiy Comfort-copper in native form. The causative agent of angular spot of soybeans has not been sensitive to these compositions. Study have shown that Dobrodiy Comfort and Dobrodiy Comfort-copper are non-toxic to bacteria of the genus Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium. According to the results of preparations titration, work has been determined that the effect of these preparations on phytopathogens remains in the range of 10-3-10-4. According to the For the first time absence of antibacterial activity at the specified dilution and toxic effect on nodule bacteria, the use of ecological drugs Dobrodiy-Comfort and Dobrodiy Comfort-Copper in the system of soybean protection against bacterial diseases has been analyzed and recommended.

УДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ БІОЛОГІЗОВАНИХ АГРОПРИЙОМІВ ВИРОЩУВАННЯ ГОРОХУ В СТАЦІОНАРНІЙ СІВОЗМІНІ

Our research aimed to determine the effect of Mikofriend and Mikohelp biologics and Humifriend biofertilizer on the yield and quality grain of Metsenat pea variety depending on the background of nutrition in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The expediency of seed treatment with biologics both separately and in combination with spraying of vegetative plants in the budding stage by Humifriend in doses of 0.4 and 0.5 l/ha under favourable growing conditions was established. It was found that regardless of the background of nutrition, treatment of seeds with combination of biologics and Maxim XL disinfectant (1.0 l/t) was ineffective, especially with insufficient level of soil moisture. On average for three years (2018–2020) against the background without fertilizers, a significant increase in the yield of pea grain (0.27–0.30 t/ha) was obtained in the variants with combination of seed treatment with Mikohelp and application of Humifriend in doses of 0.4 and 0.5 l/ha. The main application of N30P30K30 fertilizers in variants with biologics treatment of seed caused an increase in pea yield by 0.57–0.65 t/ha. At the same time, the increase in grain yield due to the use of the Humifriend (0.4 and 0.5 l/ha) was 0.22–0.28 and 0.16–0.22 t/ha, respectively. The increase in pea yield in the studied variants led to a decrease in grain protein content, this indicator on a fertilized background was 0.33–0.71 %. Over years of research, pre-sowing seed treatment with biologics and application of Humifriend in doses of 0.4 and 0.5 l/ha on a background without fertilizers led to an increase in protein harvest by 0.450–0.475 t/ha, which is by 5.8–13.4 % more than the control (without spraying). Against the background of the main application of N30P30K30, these indicators were significantly higher. The maximum protein harvest was obtained in the variants with seed treatment by Mikofriend and application of Humifriend in doses of 0.4 and 0.5 l/ha – 0.631 and 0.637 t/ha, respectively, which is 8.0–8.9 % more compared to control. The increase in gross protein harvest per area unit depended more on the level of pea yield than on the protein content of the grain. Key words: peas, nutrition background, seed treatment, crop spraying, biologics, biofertilizer, yield, grain quality, protein harvest.

Вплив мікроорганізмів з фунгіцидною та інсектицидною діями на біологічну активність ґрунту кореневої зони кукурудзи

Вплив мікроорганізмів з фунгіцидною та інсектицидною діями на біологічну активність ґрунту кореневої зони кукурудзи

Аналіз ризосферного мікробіому цукрової кукурудзи за впливу хімічних і біологічних протруйників

У статті представлено результати впливу хімічних і біологічних протруйників на кількісний склад мікробіому ризосфери цукрової кукурудзи протягом її вегетації. Показано, що за використання хімічних препаратів у ризосфері рослин на порядок знижується кількість амоніфікаторів та мікроскопічних грибів у першій половині вегетаційного періоду культури. Вплив ксенобіотиків на вміст актиноміцетів, олігонітрофілів та педоторофів є менш токсичним. У порівнянні з контрольним варіантом вміст даних мікроорганізмів знижувався на 50-75 %, при цьому змін зазнає не лише кількісний, а й якісний склад ризосферної мікрофлори. У той же час досліджувані пестициди не впливали на вміст актиноміцетів і оліготрофів. По мірі розвитку рослин негативний вплив хімічних протруйників на мікрофлору ґрунту поступово нівелювався. Відбувалося відновлення складу ризосферної мікробіоти у кожній умовній функціональній групі мікроорганізмів і до завершення вегетації кукурудзи мікробний ценоз повертався до свого первинного кількісного і якісного складу. Застосування мікробіологічних засобів захисту не призводило до змін чисельності чи дисбалансу у складі ґрунтової мікробіоти. Її кількісний та якісний склад відповідав контрольному варіанту.

Treatment of soybean seeds to control pathogenic fungi and maintain physiological quality

This study evaluates fungicide and insecticide treatments regarding the physiological quality of seeds inoculated with Fusarium sp., Phomopsis sojae , and Colletotrichum truncatum . The Laboratory of Plant Pathology of the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) - Regional Jataí provided the pathogens. We performed the tests of seed phy­siological quality, germination, and vigor at the Seed Laboratory of UFG. We evaluated the following treatments for each fungus: two controls (uninoculated seeds; untreated inoculated seeds); application of mandestrobin, inpyrfluxan and clothianidin, alone and in combination; and application of two commercial products: Standak Top ® and Maxim XL ® . For significant effects, we compared the means using the Scott-Knott test at 5% probability. Treating soybean seeds with mandestrobin + clothianidin; inpyrfluxan + clothianidin; inpyrfluxan + clothianidin + mandestrobin; or fipronil + thiophanate-methyl + pyraclostrobin (Standak Top ® ) was effective in controlling Fusarium sp. without affecting the physiological quality of seeds. Treating seeds with the active ingredients alone or in combination was not effective in controlling Phomopsis sojae and Colletotrichum truncatum , significantly decreasing the physiological quality of soybean seeds.

The intensity of ethylene release by soybean plants under the influence of fungicides in the early stages of legume-rhizobial symbiosis

The effect of pre-sowing treatment of soybean seeds with fungicides on the intensity of ethylene release, the processes of nodulation and nitrogen fixation in different symbiotic systems in the early stages of ontogenesis were investigated. The objects of the study were selected symbiotic systems formed with the participation of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) Diamond variety, strains Bradyrhizobium japonicum 634b (active, virulent) and 604k (inactive, highly virulent) and fungicides Maxim XL 035 PS (fludioxonil, 25 g/L, metalaxyl, 10 g/L), and Standak Top (fipronil, 250 g/L, thiophanate methyl, 225 g/L, piraclostrobin, 25 g/L). Before sowing, the seeds of soybean were treated with solutions of fungicides, calculated on the basis of one rate of expenditure of the active substance of each preparation indicated by the producer per ton of seed. One part of the seeds treated with fungicides was inoculated with rhizobium culture for 1 h (the titre of bacteria was 107 cells/mL). To conduct the research we used microbiological, physiological, biochemical methods, gas chromatography and spectrophotometry. It is found that, regardless of the effectiveness of soybean rhizobial symbiosis, the highest level of ethylene release by plants was observed in the stages of primordial leaf and first true leaf. This is due to the initial processes of nodulation – the laying of nodule primordia and the active formation of nodules on the roots of soybeans. The results show that with the participation of fungicides in different symbiotic systems, there are characteristic changes in phytohormone synthesis in the primordial leaf stage, when the nodule primordia are planted on the root system of plants. In particular, in the ineffective symbiotic system, the intensity of phytohormone release decreases, while in the effective symbiotic system it increases. At the same time, a decrease in the number of nodules on soybean roots inoculated with an inactive highly virulent rhizobia 604k strain due to the action of fungicides and an increase in their number in variants with co-treatment of fungicides and active virulent strain 634b into the stage of the second true leaf were revealed. It was shown that despite a decrease in the mass of root nodules, there is an increase in their nitrogen-fixing activity in an effective symbiotic system with the participation of fungicides in the stage of the second true leaf. The highest intensity of ethylene release in both symbiotic systems was recorded in the stage of the first true leaf, which decreased in the stage of the second true leaf and was independent of the nature of the action of the active substances of fungicides. The obtained data prove that the action of fungicides changes the synthesis of ethylene by soybean plants, as well as the processes of nodulation and nitrogen fixation, which depend on the efficiency of the formed soybean-rhizobial systems and their ability to realize their symbiotic potential under appropriate growing conditions.

The influence of effective soybean seed treatment on root biomass formation and seed production

The soya seed was treated before sowing with the following biological active substances: Lignohumate B, Lexin, Lexenzym, brassinosteroid, and "Complex treatment" (a mixture of saturated sugar solution, Lexin, fungicide treatment Maxim XL 035 FS and remedial pinolen substance Agrovital). During growing, the influence of biological active substances on root biomass formation and the activity of bacteria for nitrogen fixation was observed. Evaluated parameters were shoot biomass formation and dry mass formation of plants. Harvest values were considered an important output of the whole year soya growth process. As can be observed from the results, the most effective seed treatments were Lexenzym, Lexin, and "Complex treatment", where the yields were high. Moreover, the "Complex treatment" in comparison with the control variant (not treated) improved statistically conclusively not only the final yield but was helpful also for bacteria nodulation and nitrogen fixation (N<sub>2</sub>). All biologically active compounds supported the root and shoot biomass formation and the whole plant growth.

THE EFFICIENCY OF BIOLOGICAL PREPARATIONS IN THE TECHNOLOGY OF SOYBEAN GROWING ON HEAVY LOAMY CHORNOZEM ON THE RIGHT-BANK STEPPE OF UKRAINE

Objective. To study the efficacy of pre-sowing inoculation of soybean seeds with biological preparations in different preparative forms with and without pre-treatment of seeds under different systems of protection against weeds. Methods. Field, laboratory, biochemical, mathematic-statistical and economic. Results. In the stationary field experiment, the influence of different forms of biological preparations on the soybean growth under the conditions of the Right-bank Steppe of Ukraine has been studied. It has been established that in the seed pre-treatment, Maxim XL, which determines the increase in soybean productivity compared to the preparation Scarlet is preferred, and among the inoculants, it is preferred to choose Ryzobofit both in liquid and in the peat form. It has been proved that the post-emergent herbicides contribute to the decrease of weeds in soybean culture, which results in better conditions for the growth and development of plants, an increase in the number of nodules on the roots, and increased grain yield. The use of biological preparations contributed to an increase in not only the number of nodules on soybean plant roots, but also their mass compared to control without inoculation (7.8–76.9 or 26.7–109.7 %, respectively). Under the resource-saving system of crops protection from weeds in soybeans, higher rates were obtained in variants where treater Scarlet was used for pre-sowing treatment, and under the intense one — Maxim XL. The use of biological preparations in technology has made it possible to significantly increase yields by 0.2–0.3 t/ha (or 9.2–13.8 %) under both systems of crop protection from weeds. Conclusion. On heavy loamy chornozem on the Right-bank Steppe of Ukraine, pre-sowing inocula-tion of soybean by biological preparations is a mandatory agrotechnical measure, which, in combi-nation with seed pre-treatment, allows a significant increase in yields and contributes to improving the quality of the grain when cultivating the crop using both studied systems for protection of crops from weeds.

Influence of fungicides on activities of enzymes of phenolic metabolism in the early stages of formation and functioning of soybean symbiotic apparatus

We studied the effect of complex seed treatment with fungicides and rhizobium culture on the activity of phenolic metabolism enzymes – polyphenol oxidase and guaiacol peroxidase in the early stages of the formation and functioning of various symbiotic systems Glycine max – Bradyrhizobium japonicum. In the research we used microbiological, physiological, biochemical methods, gas chromatography and spectrophotometry. The objects of the study were selected symbiotic systems formed with the participation of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), Diamond variety, strains Bradyrhizobium japonicum 634b (active, virulent) and 604k (inactive, highly virulent) and fungicides Maxim XL 035 PS (fludioxonil, 25 g/L, metalaxyl, 10 g/L), and Standak Top (fipronil, 250 g/L, thiophanate methyl, 225 g/L, piraclostrobin, 25 g/L). Before sowing, the seeds of soybean were treated with solutions of fungicides, calculated on the basis of one rate of expenditure of the active substance of each preparation indicated by the producer per ton of seed. One part of the seeds treated with fungicides was inoculated with rhizobium culture for 1 h (the titre of bacteria was 108 cells in 1 ml). The other part of the fungicide-treated seeds was not inoculated by rhizobium culture. As a result of the research, it was revealed that an effective symbiotic system formed with the participation of soybean plants and the active strain rhizobia 634b is characterized by a high level of polyphenol oxidase activity and low guaiacol peroxidase in roots and root nodules in the stages of second and third true leaves. Such changes in the activity of enzymes occurred along with the formation of nodules which actively fixed the molecular nitrogen of the atmosphere. An ineffective symbiotic system (strain 604k) is characterized by an elevated level of polyphenol oxidase activity in the roots and guaiacol peroxidase in the root nodules, which is accompanied by activation of the process of nodulation. Treatment of soybean seeds with fungicides in an effective symbiotic system leads to a change in the activity of the enzymes of the phenolic metabolism, which induced adaptive changes in plant metabolism and growth of nitrogenase activity of the root nodules. The recorded changes in the activity of both enzymes for the action of fungicides in the ineffective symbiotic system can be considered as a kind of response of the plant to the treatment and were observed along with the reduction of the processes of nodulation into the stage of the third true leaf.

Physiological Effects of Insecticides and Fungicide, Applied in the Treatment of Seeds, on the Germination and Vigor of Soybean Seeds

The initial protection of plants through the use of insecticides and fungicides has been shown to be efficient for a good management of pests and diseases, however the molecules used in seed treatment have demonstrated a physiological effect on germination and initial vegetative development. The present work had as objective the evaluation of the physiological effect caused by two insecticides and a fungicide on the germination and vigor of the seeds. A randomized block design with six treatments and four replications was used. The treatments were: T1-water; T2-Rocks® insecticide; T3-Insecticide Cruiser 350 FS®; T4-Maxim XL® fungicide; T5-Rocks® + Maxim XL® and T5-Cruiser 350 FS® + Maxim XL®. The application of the treatments was performed according to the manufacturers’ recommendations and the percentage of germination of the seeds was evaluated, on paper and sand roll substrates, the rate of emergence, the total length of seedlings, the electrical conductivity of the imbibition and aging solution accelerated, with a later pattern of germination. The data were submitted to Analysis of Variance and the means were compared by the Tukey test. The results indicated that there were statistically significant differences for all variables except paper germination. The treatments that received the application of the Maxim XL fungicide demonstrated superiority, both in the evaluation of germination in sand substrate, and in the vigor evaluations of seeds and seedlings, while the treatments that received application of Rocks insecticide were inferior to the other.

Вплив біологічних препаратів на фітосанітарний стан насіння сої

Викладено результати фітоекспертизи насіння сої сорту Вільшанка Визначено показники якості, ступінь інфікованості та видовий склад патогенних мікроорганізмів. Визначено домінуючі гриби родів Fusarium, Alternaria, Mucor. Вивчено дію хімічних і біологічних препаратів для знезараження насіннєвого матеріалу та їх вплив на ріст і розвиток проростків сої.
 Soybean is one of the most demanded legumes in the world of leguminous crops. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in its production in Ukraine. The presence of pathogenic flora on the seed material significantly affects its quality, further development of plants and productivity of the studied crop.
 The vast majority of researchers offer to disinfect seeds and protect them from soil infection using chemical agents that in their opinion effectively and long-term protect a crop with a minimum negative environmental impact. Modern requirements for the quality of agricultural products focus on the use of environmentally safe plant protection measures, which include the biomethod.
 The purpose of the research is to investigate the influence of biopreparations on the degree of infection and the species composition of phytopathogens of soybean seeds, the crop quality of the investigated material, the development of plants in the initial stages of organogenesis and their racing properties.
 As a result of the research, the crop quality of the soybean seeds of Vilshanka crop was determined in 2016 and 2017. The germination energy and laboratory similarity were higher in the seeds of the crop in 2016: 78.3% and 81.8% respectively, the level of infection was 56%. In 2017 it showed a little worse quality, contamination with pathogens was 88.5%.
 In order to determine the causes of low crop quality of soybean seeds the microscopy of grain with signs of damage was performed. Fungal pathogens and bacterial etiology were detected.
 It should be noted that the fungal pathogens dominated the samples under study regardless of the harvest year. Their distribution was 85.71% and 85.76 %. Bacterial infections did not exceed 15%, and a certain number of specimens (2016 – 16.42%, and in 2017 – 7.11%) was characterized by a mixed infection.
 Alternaria was the highest in the soybean affected by the Alternaria genus, reaching 25.3% in 2016, while in 2017 this figure was almost three times smaller – 8.7%. The prevalence of fungi of Fusarium and Botrytis genera in the 2016 harvest was 2.2% and 2.5%, while in 2017, the level of gray rot affected was 1.2%, and the defeat of Fusarium sp. remained at last year level.
 The species composition of saprophytes in 2016 was represented by fungi of the genera Mucor, Aspergillus, Penicillium. The prevalence ranged from 0.5% (Penicillium sp.) to 7.5% (Mucor sp.). And in 2017 the species of scads of pathogens of secondary infection decreased to two genera Mucor, Aspergillus (3.3% and 1.5% respectively).
 The next stage of the research was the assessment of the biological activity of fungicidal preparations of chemical and biological origin against detected phytopathogenic microorganisms. As a benchmark, «Maxim XL» fungicide was used, as well as biological products «Phytodoctor» and «Trichodermin» in other cases.
 In our experiments carried out in 2016 chemical fungicide «Maxim XL» decreased the manifestation of fungal infection in 6.5 times, and in 2017 – 5.9 times compared with the control, while it was not effective against the bacterial infection. In this variant the infection with bacterial pathogens was 4.3–3.2%.
 In «Trichodermin» and «Phytodoctor» variants, the laboratory similarity was recorded at almost the same level – 85.1% and 85.3%, respectively, while the number of conditionally healthy seedlings was slightly higher with the use of «Trichodermin» – 95.2%, which is 2.3% higher than in the version with «Phytodoctor» (92.9%). «Trichodermin» showed greater effectiveness against fungal etiology, which decreased to 3.3%. «Maxim XL» positively influenced the similarity of the seeds – 93.4%, but was not sufficiently effective against the bacterial flora, the prevalence of which was manifested at 3.8%.
 It is worth noting that «Maxim XL» actively destroys the fungal pathogenic microflora, which was 2.8%, that is 4.8% less compared to the control.
 In addition to the evaluating the effectiveness of the drugs studied against the pathogenic flora, we determined their effect on the growth and development of soy sprouts. The analysis of the data shows the positive effect of biofungicides on the development of soybean variety Vilshanka. Thus, the height of the germs for the use of drugs «Trichodermin» and «Phytodoctor» increased in comparison with the control of 8.4 mm and 10.6 mm respectively, while the chemical trainer suppressed this figure by 5.8 mm. A similar trend was observed in the determining the length of the root. Consequently, at the initial stages of the development of soy plants, biopreparations showed a stimulating effect.

Increasing sowing quality of injured seeds of soft winter wheat

Purpose. To study the effect of disinfectants on quality of sound and injured seeds of soft winter wheat after manual and mechanized harvesting. Methods. The study was carried out during 2015–2017. The sowing quality of seeds of soft winter wheat varieties of intensive type Midas and Balaton (Austria) was determined according to the methods of DSTU 4138–2002 at the Laboratory of Quality of Seeds and Planting Stock of the Department of Plant Cultivation of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences (NULES) of Ukraine. Vigor or intensity of initial seed growth was determined as the percentage of seedlings that broke through sand layer of 4 cm thickness 10 days after sowing and mass of 100 such seedlings in grams. Field germination of seeds was determined in microplot trial at the scientific laboratory “Demonstrational Collection Field of Agricultural Crops” of the NULES. Results. Reliable increase in sowing quality of injured soft wheat seeds after treatment with the disinfectants Maxim XL 035 FS (1.0 l/t) and Vitavax 200 FF (2.5 l/t) has been established. Field germination of injured seeds increased practically to the level of undamaged ones. Progress of pathogenic microflora on wheat seedlings derived from the treated seeds was lower. The Vitavax 200 FF was more effective to improve the sowing quality of injured seeds in which seed vigor increased by 24 %, laboratory germination by 26 %, vigor by 6 %, field germination increased by 7 %, pathogen damage decreased by 18 %. When manual threshing, the sowing qualities of seeds were higher: field germination exceeded 80 %, pathogen affection was below 10 %. After mechanized harvesting field germination of seeds was within 78–86 %, pathogen affection 7–13 %, respectively. Conclusions. Seed dressing reduces the negative consequences of seed injuring by increasing their germination due to decontamination of pathogenic microflora and stimulation of growth processes.