RHIZOBIUM-LEGUMINOSARUM INOCULATION DECREASES DAMAGE TO FABA BEAN (VICIA-FABA) CAUSED BY BROAD BEAN MOTTLE BROMOVIRUS AND BEAN YELLOW MOSAIC POTYVIRUS

Faba bean (Vicia faba) plants were inoculated with rhizobia and then their sap was infected with broad bean mottle bromovirus (BBMV) or bean yellow mosaic potyvirus (BYMV) in a field experiment. Both viral infections significantly decreased shoot and root dry weight, number of nodules, nodule dry weight, numbers of flowers and pods/plant, total plant N., grain yield and N-2 fixation. However, inoculation with Rhizobium leguminosarum significantly increased all these parameters, both in healthy and virus-infected plants. Although BYMV was more destructive than BBMV, inoculation with rhizobia could be used, with other control measures, to limit damage by both viruses.