Mycologia
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
DOI: 10.3852/08-024R
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wilson, G.W.T.
Right arrow Articles by Williamson, M.M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Wilson, G.W.T.
Right arrow Articles by Williamson, M.M.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Wilson, G.W.T.
Right arrow Articles by Williamson, M.M.
Mycologia, 100(4), 2008, pp. 548-554.
© 2008 by The Mycological Society of America

Topsin-M: the new benomyl for mycorrhizal-suppression experiments


G.W.T. Wilson 1
M.M. Williamson

     Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 008C Agricultural Hall, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-6013

The fungicide benomyl was the most commonly used biocide for both field and greenhouse experiments in which arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) suppression is desired. Unfortunately benomyl is no longer manufactured and therefore is not available for experimental use and no fungicide has been proposed as a successful alternative for experimentally suppressing mycorrhizal fungi. In this study we examined the potential for the fungicide Topsin M® (topsin) to suppress mycorrhizal symbiosis in both field and greenhouse experiments. Topsin reduced AMF colonization of the obligately mycotrophic, warm-season grass Andropogon gerardii with a large and significant reduction in plant biomass production. Topsin reduced AMF colonization of the facultatively mycotrophic, cool-season grass Pascopyron smithii but did not significantly reduce biomass production. Fertilization with nitrogen and phosphorus was able to compensate for reductions in biomass due to the application of fungicide because biomass production of plants that received topsin fungicide was not significantly different from fertilized controls not receiving topsin. While we are not advocating that topsin fungicide is a universal mechanism for mycorrhizal-suppressed controls, in systems where benomyl was found to be successful topsin appears to be a useful, available and successful alternative.

Key words: arbuscular mycorrhizae, cool-season grasses, fungicide, tallgrass prairie, warm-season grasses

1 Corresponding author. E-mail: gail.wilson{at}okstate.edu






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2008 by The Mycological Society of America.