Herbicides in the initial growth and chlorophyll indices of sugarcane in pre-sprouted seedlings

The aim of the present study was to assess the selectivity of herbicides applied in the pre and post-planting of pre-sprouted seedlings (PSS). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, using a completely randomized design, with nine treatments and four repetitions. The IACSP95-5000 cultivar was used. The treatments consisted of herbicides applied in five doses as follows: in pre-planting: sulfentrazone, diclosulam, imazapic, and imazapyr, in post-planting: ethoxysulfuron, halosulfuron, 2,4-D and MSMA, and a control treatment without herbicide. Injury symptoms were assessed at 7, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 days after application (DAA), height, diameter, number of tillers, chlorophyll A, B, and total chlorophyll at 30, 60, and 90 DAA, leaf area, shoot and root dry mass at 90 DAA. The post-emergent herbicides were considered selective. Pre-planting herbicides reduced the variables assessed at 90 DAA, observed by linear regression for diclosulam and imazapic, and exponential regression for imazapyr. Treatments with sulfentrazone caused few injury symptoms, with subsequent recovery. In addition, all the variables analyzed were equal to control, with the sulfentrazone considered selective for the IACSP95-5000 cultivar.

Diuron, hexazinone, and sulfometuron-methyl applied alone and in mixture in soils: Distribution of extractable residue, bound residue, biodegradation, and mineralization

Biodegradation studies of herbicides applied to the soil alone and in a mixture are required since herbicides are often used in combinations to control weeds. When herbicides are applied in mixtures, interactions may affect their environmental fate. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of extractable residue, bound residue, biodegradation, and mineralization of diuron, hexazinone, and sulfometuron-methyl when applied alone and in a mixture in two agricultural soils. Biometric flasks filled with two types of soil (clay and sandy) collected from an area cultivated with sugarcane and treated with ¹⁴C-radiolabeled solutions of the herbicides were incubated for 70 d. More ¹⁴C-CO₂ was released when sulfometuron-methyl and hexazinone were applied in a mixture compared to when applied alone. Being used in a combination did not affect the mineralization of diuron. The soil texture directly influenced the mineralization, bound residue, and extractable residue of the three herbicides. The percentage of extractable residue decreased over time for all herbicides. Hexazinone and sulfometuron-methyl had the highest residue extracted on sandy soil when applied alone. Diuron showed the highest percentage of bound residue. The degradation of the three herbicides was higher in the clay soil regardless of the mode of application, which is related to the higher potential of the bacterial community in the clay soil to mineralize the herbicides.

Herbicide management in glyphosate and sulfonylurea-tolerant soybeans

ABSTRACT: There is little information on the efficacy and selectivity of sulfonylureas, isolated and in association with glyphosate, in glyphosate and sulfonylurea-tolerant soybeans. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of weed control and selectivity of sulfonylureas, isolated and in association with glyphosate, at post-emergence (V4) of RR2/STS soybean. The experiments were conducted in the in areas located in Piracicaba City, São Paulo State (SP), Brazil (experiment I) and Palotina City, Paraná State (PR), Brazil (experiment II). Treatments were composed of application of the herbicides sulfometuron, chlorimuron, halosulfuron, ethoxysulfuron and glyphosate, isolated and in association, in the BMX Garra RR2/STS cultivar. Experiment I was conducted focusing on the evaluation of the efficacy of weed control; whereas experiment II focused mainly on the evaluation of herbicide selectivity. The experimental design was the randomized complete block, with four replications. Crop injury, weed control, and variables related to agronomic performance were evaluated. Data were submitted to analysis of variance, and the means of the treatments were compared with the Tukey test. Sulfonylureas in association with glyphosate were effective in weed control and selective for the BMX Garra RR2/STS soybean cultivar. The sulfometuron + chlorimuron + glyphosate association presented phytotoxic potential for the BMX Garra RR2/STS cultivar.

Viability of Cyperus rotundus L. tubers after application of herbicide in pre- and postemergence

ABSTRACT Chemical management is the most widely adopted technique to control weeds in sugarcane crops. Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) is among the most difficult species to control. Herbicides need to be absorbed and translocated in a sufficient amount for the tuber chain to be effective. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the herbicides sulfentrazone, diclosulam, imazapic, imazapyr, halosulfuron, ethoxysulfuron, monosodium methyl arsenate (MSMA), and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in controlling C. rotundus and reducing the viability of its tubers. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design, with nine treatments and four replications. The herbicides sulfentrazone (800 g active ingredient – ai·ha?1), diclosulam (193.17 g ai·ha?1), imazapic (133 g ai·ha?1), and imazapyr (500 g acid equivalent – ae·ha?1) were applied in preemergence at five days after planting the tubers, while halosulfuron (112.5 g ai·ha?1), ethoxysulfuron (135 g ai·ha?1), MSMA (1,975 g ai·ha?1), and 2,4-D (1,340 g ae·ha?1) were applied in postemergence (4 to 5 leaves). The parameters visual control, shoot dry matter, number of tubers and bulbs, weight of tubers + bulbs, number of epigeal manifestations, and tuber viability were analyzed. The herbicides diclosulam, halosulfuron, and ethoxysulfuron provided 100% control of the shoot at 90 days after application (DAA). All herbicides reduced the number of bulbs, weight of tubers + bulbs, and shoot dry matter. The herbicides sulfentrazone, imazapic, halosulfuron, ethoxysulfuron, and MSMA provided the highest reduction in tuber viability.

Glyphosate, isolated or in associations, at agronomic performance and seed quality of the RR®2 soybean

ABSTRACT: The “second generation” of glyphosate-tolerant soybean (RR®2 soybean) was developed through a different technique of insertion of the glyphosate-insensitive EPSPs gene. Information on the selectivity of glyphosate, alone or in combination, in RR2 soybean is lacking. This study evaluated the effects of glyphosate, isolated or in associations, applied at post-emergence (V4), at agronomic performance and seed quality of soybean cultivar NS 6700 IPRO (RR2). The experimental design was randomized block with four replications and seven treatments, conducted in the field for two growing seasons. The treatments consisted of glyphosate herbicide, alone or in combination with clethodim, cloransulam, chlorimuron, lactofen and fluazifop, besides the control without application. Analysis was performed for crop injury, Soil and Plant Analyzer Development (SPAD) index, as well as variables related to agronomic performance (height, number of pods per plant, yield and 1,000-seed weight) and seed quality (vigor, germination, abnormal seedlings and dead seeds). An additional test was conducted with the same cultivar and treatments in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design with four replications. The herbicides did not affect agronomic performance and seed quality of RR2 soybean. Thus, the soybean cultivar NS 6700 IPRO (RR2) was tolerant to glyphosate, alone or combined with other herbicides applied in post-emergence (V4).

Does Sourgrass leaf anatomy influence glyphosate resistance?

Sourgrass(Digitaria insularis, L. Mez ex Ekman)is a weed that requires high rates of glyphosate ((N-[phosphonomethyl]-glycine) forcontrol, verylittle of the herbicide applied isabsorbed by theleaves. Morphological and histological differences in leaves of glyphosate-resistant and glyphosate-susceptible plantsshould explain the contrast of variance between herbicide susceptibility. Leaves of different growth andphenological stages were collected and submitted to histological andelectron microscopy scanning analysis. Those plants were also submitted to a glyphosate dose-response curve analysis. The results suggest thatbiotypes exhibits differences infoliar structures that can influence the uptake and translocation of glyphosate. A thinparenchyma, lesser distance amongvascular bundles, and higher phloem sizewere found in resistant biotypes (differences close to 10%). Minor stomata number and higher epicuticular waxy deposition in stomata and leaf surface were found in resistant plants when leaves came from regrowth, leading to a possiblelesser herbicide absorption. Resistant plants showed absence of trichomes in late stages of development (64% less trichomes than susceptible plants). The higher concentration of trichomes in susceptible plants can be an absorption pathfor glyphosate getthrough the cuticle.

Low glyphosate rates do not affect Citrus limonia (L.) Osbeck seedlings

BACKGROUND

Glyphosate is used to control weeds in citrus orchards, and accidental spraying or wind drift onto the seedlings may cause growth arrest owing to metabolism disturbance. Two experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of non-lethal rates (0, 180, 360 and 720 g AI ha(-1)) of glyphosate on four-month-old 'Cravo' lime, Citrus limonia (L.) Osbeck, seedlings. Photosynthesis and the concentrations of shikimic acid, total free amino acids and phenolic acids were evaluated.

RESULTS

Only transitory effects were observed in the contents of shikimate and total free amino acids. No visual effects were observed.

CONCLUSION

The present study showed that glyphosate at non-lethal rates, which is very usual when accidental spraying or wind drift occurs in citrus orchard, did not cause severe metabolic damage in 'Cravo' lime seedlings.

Absorption and translocation of 2,4-D in plants of Memora peregrina

The objective of this work was to evaluate absorption and translocation of the herbicide 2,4-D in plants of Memora peregrina. The herbicide 2,4-D was used alone with the formulation DMA 806 BR and associated with the herbicide picloram in the commercial product Padron. Levels of radioactivity on the treated leaves were determined in sample obtained after washing them with methanol and chloroform at different times after the application of the radiolabelled formulation (1, 2, 4, 8, 24, and 48 h). Translocation was evaluated by cutting plants between stem and root. The parts obtained were: root, stem, leaf treated, leaves above the leaf treated, leaves below the leaf treated, and leaf opposite of the leaf treated. These parts were weighted, dried, ground, burnt, and radioactivity in the samples was determined. The results suggest that the translocation of the radioactive herbicide 2,4-D was insignificant in plants of M. peregrina in the two treatments evaluated. Absorption of 14C 2,4-D in the treatment with DMA 806 BR and the mixture of DMA 806 BR plus Padron had the same behavior. These observations explain the inefficient control obtained with this herbicide in plant species under study.

Cover crops and natural vegetation mulch effect achieved by mechanical management with lateral rotary mower in weed population dynamics in citrus

The aim of this study was to obtain information on practical weed management in order to reduce the use of herbicides thereby contributing to the sustainable development of citrus crop. The experiment was carried out under field conditions at the experimental area of the Department of Vegetal Production at the College of Agriculture "Luiz de Queiroz," Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, during the season 2002-2003. Influence of mulches produced by four types of vegetations on the dynamic population of weeds in the line of citrus crop (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) was evaluated. The experimental design was of factorial randomized blocks (4 x 2), where the treatments were: (i) four types of vegetation: Dolichos lablab L., Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp, Penisetum glaucum (L.) Leeke, and the natural infestation composed basically by Panicum maximum Jacq.; and (ii) two types of fertilization: directed under canopy and broadcast. Mechanical management of the different vegetations was accomplished using a lateral rotary mower, KAMAQ, I model NINJA MAC 260, projected to release the green cut material under crop canopy, forming a mulch layer. The studied parameters were: (i) counting of weeds per m2 in the crop line after 30, 60, 90, 180, and 210 days following the cutting of existing vegetation; (ii) percentage of covered area by weeds; and (iii) some chemical properties of the soil. It was observed that the natural infestation showed a better weed control when compared with the other treatments, and that the broadcast fertilization, regardless of coverage used, presented a lower number of weeds.