Effects of the herbicides fluometuron and prometryn on Rhizoctonia solani in soil cultures

Abstract
Responses of Rhizoctonia solani to herbicides in soil cultures were assessed by measuring soil enzyme activity and other growth-related factors. Both β-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) and phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1, 3.1.3.2) activities were highly correlated with amounts of mycelium in soil. Both enzyme activities were reduced significantly by either fluometuron or prometryn at 40 μg/g of soil; the pathogen was more distinctly suppressed by fluometuron and showed a stronger tendency to overcome the effects of prometryn with time. Inhibition was also reflected in reduced utilization of glucose and less CO2-C evolved. Except for an increase in β-galactosidase activity in the presence of 1 μg fluometuron, low levels of either herbicide had little effect on the pathogen.