01828nas a2200133 4500008004100000245007000041210006700111300001300178490000800191520138200199100001701581700002101598856007501619 2008 eng d00aTopsin-M: the new benomyl for mycorrhizal-suppression experiments0 aTopsinM the new benomyl for mycorrhizalsuppression experiments a548 -5540 v1003 a
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.
1 aWilson, G.T.1 aWilliamson, M.M. uhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3852/08-024R?journalCode=umyc20