@article{Osadebe_George_2022, title={Effect of the chlorinated hydrocarbon herbicide, paraquat dichloride, on the growth properties and diversity of soil fungi}, volume={24}, url={https://mjee.org.mk/index.php/mjee/article/view/196}, DOI={10.59194/MJEE22242079o}, abstractNote={<p>This study explored acute herbicide-induced changes in soil fungal biomass, relative abundance, diversity and hyphal extension in response to five different application concentrations (1.625mg/kg – 25.00mg/kg) of paraquat dichloride using the media dilution technique. There was a general decline in all the parameters investigated with increasing concentration and contact time. Of all the isolates obtained, <em>Penicillium </em>and <em>Fusarium </em>were the most frequently occurring amongst the filamentous fungi while <em>Saccharomyces </em>was the more frequently occurring yeast. Investigation of soil mycelial biomass revealed that the lowest dry weight was attained at the highest application rate of 25mg/kg representing a 61.71% reduction in mycelial biomass compared to the control. Based on the tolerance indices, the three isolates studied could be ranked in increasing order of tolerance as <em>Mucor </em>< <em>Fusarium </em>< <em>Penicillium</em>. <em>Mucor </em>showed no linear extension at concentrations of 3.25mg/kg and above while <em>Penicillium </em>exhibited linear extension even at 25mg/kg. At paraquat dichloride concentrations of 6.50mg/kg and over, growth inhibition levels for total soil fungi were over 50%; for <em>Mucor</em>, it was 100% at concentrations over 3.25mg/kg. <em>Fusarium </em>only exhibited 100% growth inhibition at the highest application concentration of 25mg/kg. <em>Penicillium </em>and total soil fungi were inhibited by 94% and 75% respectively at 25mg/kg. Statistically, soil fungal abundance and linear extension at herbicide concentrations of 3.25mg/kg and over were significantly different (at 95% confidence interval) from those obtained in the control experiments. It was concluded that the soil fungal community structure was radically altered by acute exposure to the herbicide, paraquat dichloride.</p>}, number={2}, journal={Macedonian Journal of Ecology and Environment}, author={Osadebe, Anwuli U. and George, Belema I.}, year={2022}, month={Dec.}, pages={79–87} }