Pesticide side effect on the symbiotic efficiency and nitrogenase activity of Rhizobiaceae bacteria family.

The laboratory experiments tested the influence of selected pesticides on the symbiotic efficiency and nitrogenase activity of Rhizobium leguminosarumin bv. trifolii KGL, Sinorhizobiuni melilotii Bp and Badyrhizobium sp. Ornithopus B bacteria entering into symbiosis with clover, lucerne and serradella, respectively. The results obtained indicate that the pesticides used in the experiments (Funaben T seed dressing and Pivot 100SL herbicide) caused reduced nitrogenase activity in active strains tested. In addition, a toxic effect of the applied pesticides on the nodulation and root growth of the tested plants was observed.