Influence of the fungicides carbendazim and chlorothalonil on spore germination, arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and growth of soybean plants

The application of the fungicides carbendazim and chlorothalonil decreased the percentage of colonization of soybean by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fun gus Glomus mosseae. However, nonsignificant effect was observed on the colo nization of soybean by the application of the fungicide chlorothalonil. Con centrations of 0.1 x 10(-3) mu l ml(-1) of carbendazim and 0.01 x 10(-3) mu l ml(-1) of chlorothalonil inhibited germination and hyphal length of G. m osseae spores. Ungerminated spores, treated with the fungicides, were able to germinate whell were transferred to freshly-prepared water-agar plates i ndicating a fungistatic rather than a fungicidal effect.