Effects of Seed Treatment and Foliar Application by using Biological Control Agents and Liquid Organic Fertilizers on Development and Yield on Moong Bean (Vigna radiata L.)

Vigna radiata, commonly known as green gram or mung bean (moong) in India, is a member of the legume family. India leads the world in green gram production, with cultivation occurring in nearly all states. During the 2021-22 periods, green gram was cultivated on approximately 40.38 lakh hectares, yielding a total production of 31.5 lakh tonnes. The crop’s productivity stood at 783 kg/ha, accounting for 11% of India’s total pulse production. In Kharif 2022-23, green gram production was 17.5 lakh tonnes, (1^st advance estimates) in an area of 33.37 lakh hectares. According to Government of India, 1^st advance estimates during 2022-23, green gram was grown in 0.08 lakh hectares with a production of 0.04 lakh tonnes and productivity was 493 kg/ha. Green gram is an excellent source of high-quality protein (25%) having high digestibility. It is consumed as whole grains as well as “Dal” in a variety of ways in our food. Green grammes are grown largely for their seeds, which occur in three colours: green, black and yellow. The seeds are consumed in a variety of forms, including whole beans, split beans (dal) and flour. Mature mung bean seeds are cooked or milled. Green gramme also produces sprouts, which are often used in salads and stir-fries. Green gramme is occasionally planted expressly for hay, green manure, or cover crops. Green manure enriches the soil with nitrogen during fallow seasons, minimising the demand for chemical fertilisers. The plant uses less water and has a shorter development cycle, making it ideal for areas with scarce water or short growing seasons. This helps to promote biodiversity and sustainable farming techniques. As a short-duration crop, it may be used in a variety of cropping systems, including as an intercrop with many commercial crops. Seed priming is a novel and promising approach for enhancing seed germination, seedling emergence and plant plantations in order to attain self-sufficiency in grain, legume and oilseed production under stress conditions. Bio-priming is an ecological strategy that combines biological features like seed inoculation with beneficial organisms to protect the seed and manage infections, as well as physiological aspects like seed hydration.

Days to 50% flowering and days to maturity
 
The days to 50% flowering observed at those days when approx. 50% flowering occur in this plot same as days to maturity observed when approx. 50% pods become mature. Both showed a significant difference due to seed biopriming treatment. Minimum flowering period was observed in T₄ (35.50) followed by T₃ (35.83) and T₂ (36.17) as compared to control (T₀) i.e. (42.17), same as minimum maturity period was observed in T₄ (55.50) followed by T₃ (55.83) and T₂ (56.17) as compared to control (62.17) (Table 1). (Kumar et al., 2016) determined the number of days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of effective tillers per plant, length of spike (cm), number of spikelet’s per spike, number of grain per spike, 1000 grain yield per plant (g), length of seed (mm), breath of seed (mm), seed germination (%), root length (cm), shoot length (cm) and vigour index. The 1000-seed weight, seed germination, shoot length, vigour index and grain yield per plant were all deemed significant at 5% probability.


 
Plant height (cm)
 
The differences in plant height among the treatments were highly significant. After maturity plant height was recorded the tallest plant was produced by seeds bio primed with PF @75% (46.71 cm) followed by seeds bio primed with PF 50% + foliar spray of PF @ 2 g/l of water on 30 and 45 DAS (44.02 cm). Whereas non-primed seeds produced shorter plant with a height of 38.40 cm (Table 1). (Hanaa and Safaa, 2019) found that the highest plant height (92.36 cm), chlorophyll content (51.04) SPAD, spike length (14.25 cm), number of spikes/m² (365.3), 1000-grain weight (36.50g) and grain yield (6.61 t/ha^-1) were all generated by IAA at a concentration of 100 ppm.
 
No. of branches/plant
 
Regarding number of branches/plant, there was a significant difference due to treatments. Maximum number of branches/plant was observed in seeds bio primed with PF @75% (6.05) followed by seed bio primed with liquid Azospirrilum @20% (5.82). whereas non-primed seeds produced lower number of branches (3.12) (Table 2). Tamalla et al., (2014) examined the impact of Trichoderma virens and Piriformospora indica seed biopriming on the morphological, physiological and growth characteristics of mung beans (Vigna radiata L.).


 
Number of pods/plant
 
The treatment effect was significant on number of pods/plant. Highest number of pods per plant was recorded in seeds primed with PF@75% (18.18) followed by seeds bio primed with TV @50% (15.96). Whereas lowest number of pods per plant was recorded in non-primed seeds (7.57) (Table 2). (Sarvjeet et al., 2018) standardize the biofertilizer doses with the selection of rhizobium strain for exploitation of its natural symbiosis with chickpea for effective nodulation, maximum grain yield in chickpea. Maximum no. of pod per plant (75.38) and seed yield (Kg/ha) (2170.08) was recorded in inoculation with biofertilizer (Rhizobium).
 
Number of seeds/pod
 
The number of seeds/pod was significantly influenced by treatments. The highest number of seeds per pod was observed in seeds bio primed with PF @ 75% (7.73) followed by seed bio primed with PF @25% + foliar spray of PF 2 g/l of water (7.35). Whereas lowest number of seeds/pod was observed in non-primed seeds (5.30) (Table 2). Kumari et al., (2022) Interactive Effect of potential biocontrol agents and organic amendments on lentil wilt pathogen incited by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentils and its management. In vitro bio efficacy of different antagonists and organic amendments on mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentils by using seven Trichoderma spp. This combination enhances percent germination (96.67), phenological and biomass parameters like plant height (47.23 cm), pods/plant (60.42), seeds/plant and yield of seed/plant (4.45 g), fresh and dry weight of shoot and root (33.98, 2.89 and 6.97, 0.79 g) and reduces the disease incidence (14.88%).

Number of clusters/plant
 
Significant difference was noticed among treatments for number of clusters/plant. Seeds bio primed with PF @75% recorded a greater number of cluster/plant (4.32), followed by seeds bio primed with ASP @ 20% (4.08). Whereas lowest recorded in non-primed seed (1.82) (Table 2).
 
Seed yield/plant (gm)
 
Seed yield/plant showed a significant difference due to treatments. Highest seed yield/plant was recorded in seeds bio primed with PF @ 75% (4.24 gm) followed by seeds bio primed with PF @25% + foliar spray of PF 2 g/l of water (3.67). Whereas non-primed seeds recorded lower number of seed yield/plant (1.86 gm) (Table 3). Similarly, (Raja et al., 2018) conducted to produce potential seedlings and sustained seed yield of black gram under rice fallow cultivation, Results of the both experiments revealed the superiority of 40% liquid Pseudomonas soaking for 3 hrs. + Polymer @ 3 g kg^-1 over other treatments. Among the sowing methods, seeds sown at 7 days before paddy harvest (S₁) were recorded significantly maximum seed yield per plant (14.1 g), per plot (1.57 kg) and per hectare (523 kg).



Test weight (gm)
 
Regarding test weight (100 seed weight), significant difference was noticed due to treatments. Seeds bio primed with PF@75% showed maximum weight (3.82 gm) followed by seeds bio primed with TV@75% (3.62) whereas minimum weight observed in non-primed seeds (3.02) (Table 3). (Safeer et al., 2017) experiment was reported that application of thiourea significantly improved yield contributing traits like number of productive tillers, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight and grain yield by 10.32%, 13.1%, 23% and 17%, respectively as compared to control.
 
Biological yield (gm)
 
Biological yield was significantly influenced by treatments. Maximum biological yield showed by seeds bio primed with PF @ 75% (15.73), followed by seeds bio primed with ASP @20% (15.08) whereas minimum biological yield recorded in non-primed seeds (13.22) (Table 3). (Negi et al., 2021) studied the effect of seed biopriming with different bioagents including plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR-1), rhizobial biofertilizer (Rhizobium strain B1) and biological control agent (Trichoderma viride) was observed on plant growth, seed yield and incidence of diseases in French bean. 
       
Harvest index (%)
 
Significant difference was observed among treatments for harvest index. Harvest index percentage was highest observed in seeds bio primed with PF @75% (27.07), followed by seeds bio primed with PF @25% +foliar spray of PF 2 g/l of water (24.87). Whereas lowest percentage showed by non-primed seeds (14.18) (Table 3). Similarly, (Khangarot et al., 2022) studied the effect of PROM and microbial inoculants on the growth and yield of mungbean. The results showed that combined application of PROM+PSB+VAM+PF reported the maximum values of most of the growth and yield attributing characters i.e. plant height, number of branches/plant, dry matter accumulation, total and effective number of root nodules per plant, fresh and dry weight of nodules per plant, crop growth rate, chlorophyll content, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, test weight, seed, straw and biological yield of mungbean as compared to other combinations and control.                  

Two-year field experiment clearly suggests that usefulness of seed biopriming in moong bean by Pseudomonas fluorescens, Trichoderma viridae, Azospirilum and Phosphobacter for growth and productivity of moong bean. This will improve plant health and give healthy produce. The productivity of moong bean could be increased due to seeds bio primed with Pseudomonas fluorescens @75% through improved growth and yield attributing parameters when compared to nonprime seeds.

The authors thank the authorities of Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, U.P. India for providing all the facilities to conduct this investigation.
 

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.