A Study of the Effect of Herbicides on Mycorrhizae Associated With Native Warm Season Grass

Kendra Medley

Date of Graduation

Spring 2003

Degree

Master of Natural and Applied Science in Agriculture

Department

College of Agriculture

Committee Chair

Pam Trewatha

Abstract

Imazapic, imazethapyr, and imazapzyr were applied to seedlings of Tripsacum dactyloides, Andropogon gerardii, Panicum virgatum L., and Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash. growing in native prairie and sterile soil. All herbicide treatments caused a negative effect on plants and mycorrhizal colonization. Plant survival was directly correlated with the presence of mycorrhizae and lower rate of herbicides applied. Herbicide application appeared to have little effect on colonization and intensity rate of mycorrhizae. Imazapic, imazethapyr, and imazapyr were applied to mycorrhizal spores (Gigaspora rosea) growing on mycropore filters in sand. After 26 days incubation the dark, hyphal growth was measured. The herbicides reduced hyphal growth.

Subject Categories

Agriculture

Copyright

© Kendra Medley

Citation-only

Dissertation/Thesis

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