Effect of some herbicides and fungicides on the in vitro growth of the endomycorrhizal fungus Pezizella ericae

Abstract

The endomycorrhizal fungus, Pezizella ericae (Read), was grown in modified Norkran's broth amended with several rates of 2 herbicides (hexazinone and glyphosate) and 3 fungicides (etridiazole, vinclozolin, and benomyl). At equivalent rates to those used in the field, there was no significant effect of hexazinone, glyphosate, or etridiazole on fungal dry matter (DM) yields after 30 days incubation at 20°C. However, vinclozolin and benomyl reduced fungal DM production by 48 and 82% respectively, although it is likely that P. ericae would be able to tolerate the low rates at which these fungicides would be present in plant roots under field conditions.

Keywords:

• Pezizella ericae
• symbionts
• mycorrhizae
• fungi
• fungicides
• herbicides
• blueberries