Effect of Pythium ultimum and Metalaxyl Treatments on Root Length and Mycorrhizal Colonization of Cotton, Onion, and Pepper

(...)Five weeks after VAM fungus inoculation, 39-42% of roots were colonized in fumigated soil, compared to 21-26% in nonfumigated soil. VAM colonization of roots increased to 64-71% following treatment with the fungicide metalaxyl. Root lengths and VAM colonization of the three crops were reduced significantly in fumigated soil following infestation with P.u. and were similar to those in nonfumigated soil. Metalaxyl did not affect root length or VAM colonization in fumigated soil. P.u., Fusarium solani and Rhizoctonia solani were isolated from the roots of cotton, onion and pepper grown in nonfumigated soil(...)