Treatment of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L. (R) Wilczek) Seeds as an Agrotechnical Element of Crop Introduction in the Middle Volga Region

Mung bean (Vigna radiata L. (R) Wilczek) is considered to have a potential for introduction under climatic conditions of the Middle Volga. Since root rot agents are present both in soil and on the surface of seeds, there is a risk of crop infection with this disease. The purpose of the study was a theoretical and practical substantiation of the use of fungicide treatment of seeds as part of protective measures during the cultivation of this crop. The study was arranged in 2018–2020. During the observation period, the level of root rot infection in plants grown from treated seeds reduced by 0.34–0.44 points compared to the control. Moreover, the height of the Saltan and Gvidon varieties increased by 2.2–10.9 and 6.0–7.4 cm, respectively, and the height of a bottom pod attachment increased up to 7.4 cm. The treatment of seeds of the Saltan and Gvidon varieties provided an increase in the number of pods per plant by 0.3–4.5 (7.5–59.7%) and 1.6–4.3 (14.5–110.4%), respectively; the number of seeds per pod increased by 2.3 (32.9%) and 2.5 (32.9%), respectively. During the observation period, the seed formation efficiency in plants grown from treated seeds exceeded that in the control by 3–7%. A combination of these changes provided an increase in the plant productivity and a formation of a more productive agrocoenosis.