Effect of fungicide on the plant growth promoting traits of rhizobium, isolated from groundnut field

Emergence of resistance among the beneficial microbes against agro-chemicals is a key factor which enables the microbe to function in the presence of toxic agrochemicals like pesticide, fungicide, etc. In the present study, four Rhizobium isolates were isolated from groundnut field. The resistant profile of the isolates against the fungicide carbendazim were tested and the maximum tolerance up to 11,000 ppm were associated with all the four isolates. All the four isolates were also positive for the production of IAA, ammonia and HCN both in the presence and absence of carbendazim. In the present study, no isolates were able to solubilize P, and Zn.