Influence of medium-nitrogen level on growth periodicity of Ilex crenata Thunb. ‘Helleri’

Ilex crenata Thunb. ‘Helleri’ plants were grown in sand culture and supplied daily with nutrient solutions of 10, 40, 70 or 100 mg l^?1 nitrogen (N). Plant growth at all rates of N was characterized by an initial period of simultaneous shoot and root dry weight accumulation, followed by shoot elongation, root growth cessation, and major accumulations of N and dry weight. Plants grown at the greater N rates accumulated more N and exhibited a higher shoot-to-root ratio as a result of greater shoot than root growth. Plants grown at the higher N applications initiated extension growth before plants grown at lower N levels.     

Root shoot interactions in passionfruit (Passiflora sp.) under the influence of changing root volumes and soil temperatures

Summary

Passionfruit are grown in the tropics and subtropics where mean monthly soil temperatures at 15 cm range from about 10° to 30°C. The choice of rootstock can also influence production with most industries exploiting either the purple (Passiflora edulis f. edulis) or golden passionfruit (P. edulis tflavicarpa). We examined the relationship between shoot and root growth in purple x golden hybrid E-23 grafted onto golden passionfruit seedlings. Growth was manipulated by varying the volume of the soil available to the roots or temperature of the root zone. Shoot and root growth increased as root zone volume increased from 0.3, 1.4, 4, 12 to 24 1. Shoot weight (W_s) was correlated with root weight (W_R):W_S = 12.697 + 5.272 W_R + 0.195 W_R² (r² = 91%, P<0.001), with the plants allocating a smaller proportion of dry matter to the roots as root weight increased. Differences in shoot growth with pot volume were not due to changes in water or nutrient status. In the temperature experiment, the two critical root zone temperatures at 90% of maximum growth were about 20° and 35° C for vine extension, leaf area, node and leaf production, and 20° and 30°C for flower production. Leaf and stem dry weight were optimal between about 18° and 34°C, while maximum root growth occurred at 38°C. There was a weak relationship between shoot (W_s) and root dry weight (W_R): W_s = ?19.346 + 24.500 W_R ?1.046 W_R² (r² = 53%, .P<0.001). Apparently, variations in shoot growth at different soil temperatures cannot be explained solely by differences in root growth. Reduced growth at 10°C was associated with lower chlorophyll concentration, stomatal conductance and net CO₂ assimilation, but not lower leaf water potential. The concentration of most nutrients were lower at 10°C than at higher temperatures, but none was outside the range which would be expected to restrict growth. There appears to be a co-ordination of shoot and root growth as the soil volume available for root growth increases, whereas root temperature affects the roots and tops differently. The results of the pot volume experiment demonstrate the importance of rootstock vigour in passionfruit breeding. Productivity would be affected in cool subtropical areas with soil <20°C and in tropical areas with soil >30°C.     

The Relative Importance of Stem and Root in Determining Rootstock Influence in Apples

Young clonal cacao trees have been grown under controlled soil moisture conditions for 20 months in a glasshouse. Weighable soil containers were used, and water was added to restore the soil to field capacity each time the total available water, which was about 40 lb. for each plant, had been depleted to 85% (wet treatment), 50% (medium treatment) or 15% (dry treatment). Plants were either given one of these treatments for the whole experiment, or one treatment was given during the natural dry seasons and another during the natural wet seasons.

Plants given a dry treatment at any time lost their apical dominance and flushed vigorously about 10 days after each watering, though many flushes subsequently withered. The other plants flushed normally, except that the continuously wet plants ceased to flush towards the end of the experiment. The mean expanded area of each leaf was greatest during wet and least during dry periods, and plants which had suffered the least soil moisture deficit throughout growth had the greatest net leaf area and dry weight accumulation. There was little difference in the rate of transpiration per unit leaf area between plants during periods of high compared to medium soil moisture, but the rate was less during dry periods. Dry weight increases both per unit of water transpired and per unit of net leaf area were greatest in the wettest plants.

There was little difference between the effects of the wet and the medium treatments on flower production or setting or on cherelle wilt, though ultimately slightly more pods ripened on the wet plants. Plants in a dry period developed few flowers, but initiation was apparently stimulated, for in a subsequent wet or medium period flowering was exceptionally heavy ; setting was poor and cherelle wilt high, however.

It is concluded that irrigation on a greater scale than is practised at present is likely to be beneficial to the growth and yield of cacao.     

Interactions between root-zone temperature and light levels on growth,development and photosynthesis of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cultivar ‘Vendor’

Six-week-old tomato plants were subjected to 5 root-zone temperatures, ranging from 12 to 36°C, and 4 light levels in a factorial design. Large increases in shoot dry weight, leaf area and fruit development resulted from soil warming to 24°C when plants were grown under high light conditions. Shoot growth and fruit weight were reduced at 24°C root temperature under low light conditions. Total plant photosynthesis, leaf area index, net assimilation rates and leaf chlorophyll content were related to plant growth and flower development for the various treatments. Our experiments have shown an interaction between root-zone temperature and light levels for greenhouse tomatoes. Soil warming caused large increases in shoot dry weight and fruit development when light was not limiting plant growth, but had deleterious effects on flowering and fruit set under shaded conditions.     

设施砂壤土容重对番茄幼苗生长和根系构型的影响

土壤紧实是设施蔬菜生产的土壤障碍因子之一。在塑料大棚砂壤土条件下,用人工土柱栽培法研究了土壤容重分别为1.20、1.35和1.58 g ? cm-3的土壤对番茄幼苗生长和根系构型的影响。结果表明,随容重增大,叶片伸长速度、株高、植株含水量、鲜质量、干质量、根冠比、根表面积、根长密度和根体积密度等都显著降低。随容重增大,根系干质量、根表面积、根长密度和根体积密度在垂直面上的分布显著降低,容重1.58 g ? cm-3处理的根系全部分布在0 ~ 6 cm土层内。高容重土壤使根毛区皮层产生形变,即细胞变长,皮层下陷,根表面凹凸不平,根圆度变差,偏心率增大,降低根毛区的吸收能力。     

Growth of rose roots and shoots is highly sensitive to anaerobic or hypoxic regions of container substrates

Commercial greenhouse cut rose plants commonly have shallow root systems, even in well-drained substrates. We studied rose plant responses to a wide range of soil air-filled porosity values to determine tolerance to low soil aeration. ‘Kardinal’ rose plants on ‘Natal Briar’ rootstock were grown for 11 weeks in containers holding 2.5 l of Yolo loam soil. The soil had been treated with a polyacrylamide soil conditioner to stabilize aggregates after they had been separated into three size fractions: coarse (1–2 mm), medium (0.1–1 mm), and fine (<0.1 mm). Plants were irrigated frequently to keep the soil at container capacity. Total new root growth was greatest in the medium and coarse soil fractions, which had average air-filled porosities of 7.6% and 15.9%, respectively. The fine soil fraction, which had an average air-filled porosity of 1.3%, had almost no root growth. In all soil fractions, roots were absent or scarce in regions of soil that were anaerobic or hypoxic. Highest root length densities occurred at air-filled porosity values of 12–17%, and no new roots grew at air-filled porosity values below 3%. Shoot yields were lower for plants in the substrate with low air-filled porosity, and their leaves had lower stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, mid-day water potential, and macronutrient concentrations. Frequent irrigation that precludes aeration of the lower regions of the substrate profile will result in shallow root systems and could lead to decreased yields.     

Sod establishment and turfgrass growth as affected by urea–formaldehyde resin foam soil amendment

Urea–formaldehyde resin foam (UFRF) has recently been introduced as a soil amendment for turfgrass culture. A field study was performed to evaluate the impact of UFRF on soil physical and chemical properties, sod establishment and turfgrass shoot and root growth. Treatments included a non-amended, sandy loam soil and the same soil amended with UFRF at a rate of 20% (v/v) incorporated into the upper 0.1 m of the substrate. Physical and chemical analyses of the two substrates involved the determination of bulk density, total porosity, air-filled porosity at 0.4 m, moisture release curve, pH and electrical conductivity. Turfgrass growth was determined through several measurements that included shoot growth rate, root growth rate and monitoring of three root architecture parameters namely, total root length, total root area and mean root diameter. Turfgrass establishment was evaluated by measuring the vertical force applied to detach the sod from the substrate.UFRF amendment did not influence pH and EC and provided minimal alterations (non-significant) in soil physical properties by slightly increasing total porosity, easily available water and air-filled porosity, and by reducing bulk density. The impact of UFRF amendment improved cumulative clipping yield in five sampling dates but root growth and sod establishment rate were better than the control only on one sampling date. There appears to be limited benefit in amending soil with UFRF.     

Stability of landscape trees in engineered and conventional urban soil mixes

Urban trees are frequently exposed to unsuitable soil conditions that can hamper root system development, potentially affecting both tree health and stability. Engineered soil designs have been developed to increase soil volume for trees planted in confined spaces, and past research has shown that these designs improve growing conditions. However, tree stability in these engineered soils has received limited attention from researchers. In this study, we evaluated the stability of two tree species of contrasting soil quality tolerance (Prunus serrulata and Ulmus parvifolia) after 3 years growth in two skeletal soil mixes, in a suspended pavement design (uncompacted soil), and in a conventionally prepared soil pit. Tree stability was evaluated by measuring trunk resistance to a lateral deflecting force applied with a rope winch system under both ambient and near-saturated soil conditions. Although heavily irrigating the experimental soils had no effect on tree stability, species-specific responses to soil mixes were observed. P. serrulata grown in the gravel-based skeletal soil showed greater trunk deflection resistance than trees grown in the other soil treatments, yet the stability of U. parvifolia was unaffected by soil type. These species-specific responses were consistent with earlier observations of root development in which P. serrulata grew up to 60 times greater root length in gravel-based skeletal soil whereas U. parvifolia root growth was similar in all soil treatments. This research provides evidence that certain tree species planted in conventional tree pits may be more prone to uprooting due to poor root development and that root anchorage might be improved for these species by utilizing a skeletal soil mix.     

连作土灭菌对葡萄生长及根系分泌特性的影响

为探讨葡萄连作障碍产生的原因,采用盆栽模拟试验,对葡萄连作土壤进行蒸汽灭菌,研究连作土灭菌后葡萄植株生长及根系分泌特性的变化。结果表明,连作土灭菌显著增加了葡萄植株的株高和茎粗,其中以7月份的增加幅度最大,分别比连作土增加了1.51倍和0.14倍,地上和地下鲜质量随着生长期的延长也表现出显著增加的趋势,以9月份的增加幅度最大,分别增加了1.18倍和1.09倍。并且连作土壤灭菌后葡萄叶片SOD酶活性增强,MDA含量降低,根系活力随生长期的延长,表现出先下降再上升的趋势。另外,研究发现连作土壤灭菌后葡萄根系分泌的还原糖及氨基酸总量显著降低,分别比连作土壤降低了72.60%和91.10%;氨基酸的种类及其含量也发生改变,其中Ile、Leu和Tyr3种氨基酸未达到检测水平,其他氨基酸含量降低。可见,对连作土壤进行有效的灭菌后,可以改变根际微生态的核心因素即根系分泌物的成分及含量,促进植株的生长,减轻葡萄的连作障碍,进而证实了土壤生物因素是葡萄连作障碍产生的重要原因之一。     

不同土壤条件对酿酒葡萄生理及果实品质的影响

【目的】为了探索不同土壤条件对酿酒葡萄生理及果实品质的影响,【方法】以‘蛇龙珠’酿酒葡萄为试材,研究了宁夏贺兰山东麓地区,黄河淤土、含石的沙壤土和风沙土3种土壤对葡萄糖分卸载的影响,测定了不同土壤栽培条件下葡萄果实的单果质量、可溶性固形物、可滴定酸、可溶性总糖、色素、单宁及葡萄叶片的光合速率。【结果】结果表明,在葡萄开始着色至葡萄完全成熟期间,在含石的沙壤土栽培条件下葡萄可溶性总糖含量(22.4%)比黄河淤土栽培条件下和风沙土栽培条件下分别高7%、9%;葡萄色素(5.14 mg.g-1)和叶片光合速率也最高,黄河淤土栽培条件下葡萄的含酸量(8.28 g.L-1)和单粒质量(2.32 g)较高,然而,风沙土条件下,单宁(籽单宁1.15 mg.g-1,皮单宁0.30 mg.g-1)的含量最高。【结论】土壤条件对酿酒葡萄果实品质影响较为显著,含石的沙壤土条件下葡萄品质最佳。     

Response of apple trees to boron fertilization under conditions of low soil boron availability

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of boron (B) fertilization on the vegetative and the reproductive responses of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees grown at low soil B availability. The experiment was carried out in 2005 under a greenhouse on 5-year-old ‘Jonagold’ apple trees/M.9 EMLA planted singly in 50-L containers filled with a sandy loam soil with hot water-soluble B concentration of 0.32 mg kg⁻¹. The trees were fertilized with B as foliar or soil application. Foliar B sprays were applied at the stage of pink bud, beginning of flowering, petal fall, and 10 days after flowering, at a solution concentration of 0.03%. Soil B fertilization was done at the bud break stage at a rate of 2 g per tree (27 mg B kg⁻¹ soil). The trees untreated with B served as the control. The results showed that soil B fertilization improved root development and tree vigor. Leaves of trees supplied with B to the soil had higher B concentration and chlorophyll, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and activity of catalase and glutathione reductase than those of the control plants. Boron fertilization, regardless of application mode, increased fruit yield; the efficiency of foliar B sprays was higher than soil B application. Apple fruits of trees fertilized with B to the soil were bigger, more colored, richer in B, and had higher soluble solids concentration, and titratable acidity compared to those of the control trees.     

Calcium increases sodium exclusion in olive plants

‘Picual’ olive cuttings were grown in a greenhouse under saline conditions in 2 L plastic pots containing perlite. Plants were irrigated with a nutrient solution plus 75 mM NaCl and 0, 2.5, 10 or 40 mM CaCl₂. Vegetative growth, leaf and root Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentrations were measured. Na⁺ toxicity symptoms were observed in plants non-treated with Ca²⁺. Shoot length was higher in Ca²⁺ treated plants, although shoot growth was reduced at 40 mM CaCl₂, probably due to the high total ion concentration reached in the external solution. Ca²⁺ supply linearly increased leaf and root Ca²⁺ concentration and decreased leaf Na⁺ concentration. However, there were no differences in root Na⁺ concentration. Results indicate Ca²⁺ may take part in the Na⁺ exclusion mechanism, mainly preventing Na⁺ transport to the shoot, that may be an important ability for survival under saline conditions.     

Bud-grafting success in Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King‘ related to root growth

Summary

Summer bud-grafting (budding) of the red-leaved scion ‘Crimson King’ onto Acer platanoides rootstocks is unreliable. Typically, the rootstock produces copious callus from the incision in the stem, but the scion bud-chip fails to survive and complete the union. Percentage bud-take was consistently low when rootstocks were grown and budded in 2 litre containers (e.g. 33%), moderately high, but below commercially acceptable levels, when grown in a light sandy loam soil in the field (e.g. 77%), and often very high when grown in deep sand beds (e.g. 100%). The growth of larger structural roots was in the order pot < field soil < sand beds, and confining the roots of field-grown rootstocks in porous mesh bags reduced bud-take from 79 to 13% averaged over three sites. Increasing shoot growth by growing rootstocks in a polythene house did not improve bud-take, but increasing the pot size from 2.0 to 7.5 litres did so. Extensive root growth appears to be one of a number of factors determining bud-take, which was increased further by treating the scionwood and rootstocks with a mixture of Benlate and Rovral fungicides prior to budding. These results are discussed in terms of the need to maintain the bud-chip in a viable condition during the union forming process.     

Root damage affects nitrogen uptake and growth of young Fuji/M.26 apple trees

Summary

Effects of root damage during the transplant process on growth and nitrogen (N) uptake were studied with one-year-old bench-grafted Malus domestica Borkh ‘Fuji’ on M.26 rootstock apple nursery plants. Plants were potted after grafting and grown outside for one season. At the end of the season uniform trees were selected and randomly divided into four groups. One group of plants were moved into a 2°C cold room with soil and container intact (IR Treatment). Plants in other groups were removed from pots and stored as bareroot in the same cold room for three months. In the spring, bareroot plants were either: (1) transplanted with about 10% of the root system damaged during transplant (TP Treatment and Control-CK); or (2) root pruned by 25% (by volume) prior to transplant (RP treatment). Five trees from each treatment received 1 g of ¹⁵NH₄¹⁵NO₃ at 12, 41 and 76 d after repotting. Control (CK) trees received no N. Trees were harvested 10 d after each N application, and plant growth and total N and ¹⁵N content of different tissues were determined. Root pruning reduced plant total biomass and root biomass at the first two harvests, but the plants from the RP treatment had highest total plant biomass and root biomass at the third harvest. There was no significant difference in the new stem and leaf growth among IR, RP and CK treatments at harvests but the TP treatment reduced new shoot biomass. Plants with intact roots (IR) had the higher total N content while control plants (CK) had the lowest. Root pruning reduced ¹⁵N uptake rate at the first two harvests but promoted it at the third harvest. Our results suggest that plant growth and nutrient uptake was suppressed by root pruning/damage during transplanting only in the early season, and the negative effects on growth and N uptake were offset later in the season by compensative root regeneration.     

Partitioning sources of rooting potential in plum hardwood cuttings

SUMMARY

Rooting of leafless winter hardwood cuttings of the plum rootstock Prunus insititia ‘Pixy’ increased as the location from which the shoots were taken from within specially grown stockplants decreased in height above ground, associated with a parallel reduction in shoot thickness. However, the actual height of the least-ready-rooting crown cuttings had no effect on rooting, suggesting that relative rather than absolute position is important. Rooting was unaffected by bark-ringing and trunk incision distal to the shoot position, suggesting that such treatments did not interfere with a basipetally translocated root promotor which might have accounted for improved rooting of cuttings in the lower parts of the hedge. The rooting of crown cuttings above a bark ring was reduced considerably compared with that of cuttings from normal bushes, and this was associated with increased thickness of shoots distal to the ring. Delaying pruning in spring until after growth had started resulted in thinner crown shoots compared with those from plants pruned normally while dormant, and the rooting of these thinner crown shoots was much higher than that of the normal crown cuttings. It was shown by covariance analysis that shoot thickness accounted for part of the rooting response but could not account for the total effect due to shoot position within the bush, ringing, or time of pruning. Competence to root appears to develop independently in individual shoots, modified by a shoot thickness factor which favours the subordinate shoots induced in the shoot hierarchy of severely pruned hedges.     

The influence of the topographic position within highlands of Western Rwanda on the interactions between banana (Musa spp. AAA-EA), parasitic nematodes and soil factors

Soil properties vary according to the topography. They affect water uptake and root exploration in the soil. Consequently, they may also influence the spread of plant–parasitic nematodes. This study reports on the effect of toposequence-related variations in soil on banana yields, foliar nutrient status, and nematode impact. Twenty banana plots were visited within 6 hills/valleys at each of the three toposequence positions: valley bottom, mid-slope and crest. Important variability in plant growth, nutrition and soil properties was observed within the toposequence. Significantly better plant growth (height and girth) was observed in the valley bottoms, where banana bunch weight was 1.7–3.4 kg higher (although not significant) than at upper toposequence positions. Best plant growth was observed in valley bottoms in contrast to the highest N and K foliar deficiencies in this position. Plants in the valley bottoms had higher foliar Ca and Mg, and K compared to those in the crest. Plants in the mid-slope had greater percentage of dead roots (19.1%), compared to the plants in the valley bottoms (12.3%) and the crest (14.2%). Soils in the valley bottoms were deeper, sandier, with lower organic matter, lower N, and K compared to the soils at higher toposequence. Nematodes likely play a key role in banana root damage, however, their effect appear to be in relation to various soil factors at each position. The abundance of Pratylenchus goodeyi had generally limited impact on banana yields in fields having less than 5% slope (crest and valley bottom) where soil conditions were more optimal for root growth. However, in the presence of increased run-off on steeper middle slopes, root death was increased even under moderate pressure from P. goodeyi.     

绒毛白蜡根区局部盐胁迫对其生长的影响

绒毛白蜡（Fraxinus velutina）是滨海盐渍区主要的植被和园林绿化乔木,其发达的根系易受土壤盐分异质性的影响。为探索局部盐胁迫对其生长的影响,采用分根培养桶对幼苗进行局部盐胁迫处理,分析幼苗的生长特征、光合特性、根系分布和离子积累。结果表明,局部低盐胁迫处理的幼苗生长量显著高于均匀盐胁迫和局部高盐胁迫处理;虽然局部高盐胁迫对叶片的水势无影响,但是显著降低了叶片的气孔导度、光合速率和蒸腾速率。局部盐胁迫处理中,无盐胁迫区的根系生物量显著高于盐胁迫区;与均匀盐胁迫相比,局部盐胁迫能够显著降低叶片中Na+的含量,增加K+/Na+。虽然绒毛白蜡的生长在局部盐胁迫条件下受到抑制,且局部盐分越高抑制越强,但生长量与均匀盐胁迫相比显著增高。在局部盐胁迫条件下,细根在无胁迫区的补偿性生长能够提供叶片所需水分,降低叶片中Na+的积累,增加K+含量,缓解了盐胁迫的不利影响。     

Effect of different lifting dates and different lengths of cold storage on plant vitality of silver birch and common oak

Woody ornamental bare-root plants transplanted in urban areas frequently show poor establishment and occasionally high mortality. Tolerance to different stress factors during transplanting is dependent on plant vitality. The significance of lifting date, in combination with different lengths of time in cold storage, was investigated with 2-year old plants of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and common oak (Quercus robur L.). Plants were grown on a field site in Southern Sweden and were lifted on four occasions, at intervals of 4 weeks, during autumn and early winter. After lifting, plants were stored in a cold store for 90, 135 and 180 days and then (a) xylem water potential in roots and shoots, (b) root growth potential (RGP), (c) mortality and die-back, and (d) shoot and leaf growth were assessed. Lifting bare-root plants of silver birch and common oak too early in the autumn resulted in 62% mortality in birch and 43% in oak, and 31 and 26% die-back in birch and oak, respectively. Plants lifted at a later date showed no mortality in birch and <10% in oak, and almost no die-back. Plants lifted too early in autumn showed decreased root, shoot and leaf growth, compared with those lifted later in the autumn. A longer time in cold storage had a further negative effect on plant vitality in plants lifted too early. Plants lifted later in autumn showed little or no difference in mortality or die-back, for different periods of cold storage, and showed an increase in growth with longer periods of cold storage. Birch plants lifted too early had lower water potential, both in roots and shoots, compared to plants lifted at a later date, while oak plants had the lowest water potential when lifted late. Plants lifted on the first occasion had not been exposed to temperatures below +5°C before lifting, while plants lifted 4 weeks later had been exposed for 67 h to a mean temperature below +5°C. Plants lifted on the first occasion had high mortality and more die-back, while those lifted 4 weeks later showed almost no damage at all. These observations indicate that accumulated exposure to low temperature is probably an important factor in the development of stress tolerance in bare-root plants of silver birch and common oak.     

硅对甜瓜早熟性及光合特性的影响*

 在水培条件下, 以不同熟性甜瓜品种为材料, 研究了适度低温条件下, 营养液中硅对甜瓜生长、光合作用以及早熟性的影响。结果表明, 供硅处理可以增加植株根冠比, 提高地上部与地下部硅含量。与缺硅植株相比, 施硅可以明显地提高两个品种叶绿素含量, 不同程度地增强光合速率, 降低蒸腾速率。使得甜瓜品种&#1048578; Starship 开花期提前, 坐果节位降低,化果率明显下降, 从而显著地提高早期产量。     

Effect of tebuconazole-tolerant and plant growth promoting Rhizobium isolate MRP1 on pea–Rhizobium symbiosis

Seed dressing with fungicides adversely affects the structure and function of beneficial soil microbial communities and consequently crop yield. This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of technical-grade fungicide tebuconazole on plant growth promoting potentials of tebuconazole-tolerant Rhizobium isolate MRP1. The performance of the isolate MRP1-inoculated pea plants grown in tebuconazole treated soils was also assessed. Generally, the three concentrations [100 (recommended dose), 200 and 300 μg kg⁻¹ soil] of tebuconazole when used alone, adversely affected the growth, symbiosis, grain yield and nutrient uptake by pea plants. Concentration dependent phytotoxicity of tebuconazole was observed for all the measured parameters. On the contrary, fungicide tolerant Rhizobium sp. MRP1 in the presence of fungicide increased the measured parameters at all tested concentrations. As an example, when inoculant MRP1 was also used with 300 μg tebuconazole kg⁻¹ soil, it substantially increased the root nitrogen, shoot nitrogen, root P, shoot P, seed yield and grain protein by 20, 19, 50, 31, 15 and 7%, respectively, when compared with uninoculated plants grown in fungicide-treated soils. The study suggests that the plant growth promoting Rhizobium sp. MRP1 can be used as bacterial inoculant to increase the production of pea in soils polluted with fungicides.