Reduced herbicide doses used together with allelopathic sorghum and sunflower water extracts for weed control in wheat

Water extracts from allelopathic crops possess the potential to control weeds effectively, especially when used in combination with reduced rates of herbicides. Label doses of different herbicides and their seventy percent reduced doses, were combined with 18 l/ha each of allelopathic sorghum and sunflower water extracts (WE). This combination was sprayed 30 days after sowing (DAS) for weed control in wheat (Triticum aestivum). Maximum reduction in total weed density and dry weight over the control, was recorded in a field sprayed with mesosulfuron + idosulfuron (Atlantis 3.6 WG) at 14.4 g active substance (a.s.)/ha. However, sorghum + sunflower WE each at 18 l/ha combined with doses which had been reduced by 70% of mesosulfuron + idosulfuron (Atlantis 12 EC at 36 g a.s./ha), or metribuzin + phenoxaprop (Bullet 38 SC at 57 g a.s./ha) or mesosulfuron + idosulfuron (Atlantis 3.6 WG at 4.32 g a.s./ha), reduced total weed dry weight by more than 90%, over the control. Sorghum and sunflower water extracts each at 18 l/ha combined with metribuzin + phenoxaprop (Bullet 38 SC at 57 g a.s./ha) produced a maximum number of productive tillers, spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, biological yield and grain yield. Moreover, this treatment was the most economical along with having the maximum net benefits. The results suggested that weeds can be controlled in wheat, for a higher yield, when a 70% reduced herbicide dose is used in combination with allelopathic sorghum and sunflower water extracts

Allelopathic effect of endemic South American Bothriochloa species (Poaceae: Andropogoneae)

The essential oil composition of Bothriochloa velutina has been studied. The principal compounds of essential oils of three South American endemics, B. eurylemma, B. meridionalis and B. velutina were isolated. In laboratory bioassays, the principal compounds inhibited the seed germination and root and shoot growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), maize (Zea mays L.), wintergreen paspalum (Paspalum guenoarum Arechav.) and lovegrass [Eragrostis curvula (Schard.) Nees] test species. The aqueous extracts from different plant parts of three species of Bothriochloa inhibited the seed germination and root and shoot growth of test species. Aqueous extracts were more inhibitory to shoot and root elongation than to seed germination. Significant inhibition in shoot length at all concentrations indicated the phytotoxic activity of extracts. The toxicity enhanced with increasing aqueous extract concentrations. The compounds isolated can interfere with seed germination and seedling growth of plants. Consequently, the study of these chemical interactions might be useful to develop new classes of environmentally safe herbicides.Fil: Scrivanti, Lidia Raquel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Anton, Ana Maria Ramona. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentin