Effect of Fungicides to Control Damping-off on Development of Mycorrhiza

The effect of several fungicides added to the soil to control damping-off disease in pines on the development of mycorrhiza was studied. All the fungicides had an initial retarding effect on mycorrhiza, particularly when the roots were restricted within the treated zone. Mycorrhiza eventually developed in seedlings when their roots penetrated beyond the treated zone, or when the toxic levels of chemicals were lowered in the treated zone in course of time. Adequate development of mycorrbiza resulted in healthy seedlings of Pinus patula with green lustre and better height growth over non-mycorrhizal seedlings which were pale and yellow.