The effects of fungicide-coated seeds on the establishment of VA mycorrhizal infection

Commercial fungicide-coated seed of five plant species was tested to determine whether the fungicides used affected seedling infection by VA mycorrhizal fungi. All the plants became mycorrhizal, with no differences between those emerging from fungicide-coated or non-fungicide-coated seed. However, when the same fungicides were applied as soil drenches, mycorrhizal infection was greatly inhibited, and in some instances was absent throughout the duration of the experiment.