Fungicides Added to Potting Substrate Affect Mycorrhizal Symbiosis between a Peach-Almond Rootstock and Glomus sp.
Prior to the commercial use of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) in the nursery, the effects of commonly used pesticides on symbiosis must be evaluated. Metalaxyl and propamocarb are two fungicides added to potting substrates to prevent diseases caused by phycomycetes. Both fungicides were incorporated into the potting substrate before the inoculation and planting of the peach-almond hybrid rootstock GF677 (Prunus persica L. × Prunus dulcis Mill. D.A. Webb). The AM fungus used were Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe and Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith. Glomus intraradices was not affected by either fungicide; however, metalaxyl adversely affected root colonization by G. mosseae and decreased rhizosphere activity as measured by esterase activity. Chemical names used: N-(2-methoxyacetyl)-N-(2,6-xylyl)-DL-alaninate) (metalaxyl); propyl 3(dimethylamino)propylcarbamate (propamocarb).