Record Details

The response of beans to fluorodifen as affected by light and other factors

ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

Field Value
Title The response of beans to fluorodifen as affected by light and other factors
Names Pollak, Tomas (creator)
Crabtree, Garvin D. (advisor)
Date Issued 1973-11-30 (iso8601)
Note Graduation date: 1974
Abstract Studies with fluorodifen were conducted to gain more information
about its field performance and the influence of light quantity,
quality and timing of exposure on its phytotoxic properties. Uptake
and trans location in three plant species were also investigated.
These studies were aimed at evaluating the usefulness of this chemical
as a selective herbicide for controlling weeds in beans
(Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Oregon.
Field data compiled for a period of three consecutive years
indicated that the highest yields of green beans were obtained when
fluorodifen was applied at a rate of 6 lb/A preemergence. At
higher rates, crop injury was noticeable in the form of shortening
of midrib and necrotic lesions on hypocotyls and other plant tissues such as cotyledons that came into contact with the herbicide.
Occasionally these symptoms were observed at rates as low as
1 lb/A under an unspecified set of conditions occurring in the field.
A combination of fluorodifen applied preemergence and cultivation
two weeks after emergence of the crop provided the best weed controls
Shading the crop at different stages of development did not provide an
explanation for the cause of stem lesion development, but when shade
was provided from application until the first true leaf, phytotoxicity
was noticeable. Three soil types and two watering regimes did not
provide significant, consistent phytotoxicity or stem burning.
By the use of neutral density filters, different intensities of
light with the same spectral emission were obtained in growth chambers.
Bean and soybean plants were more sensitive to fluorodifen at
low levels of light. The percentage dry weight reduction decreased as
the light intensity increased from 1,000 to 2,000 ft/c. In determining
the critical period in which light enhances fluorodifen injury to beans
and soybeans, it was found that plants exposed to light on the second
to third day after planting were most severely injured. When filters
were used to evaluate the influence of light quality on fluorodifen
toxicity to beans and soybeans, these plants were more sensitive to
fluorodifen when exposed to yellow and red light than when exposed to
blue or white light. Phytotoxic symptoms were observed especially
under yellow light. Exposure to light at the time of crop emergence
resulted in the greatest phytotoxicity.
Autoradiography and radioassay results indicated that ¹⁴C-fluorodifen
was absorbed mostly within six hours after application.
The distribution pattern remained fairly constant in beans and soybeans
with the largest percentage of activity remaining in the treated
portion at all times. Greater mobility of the label was observed in
cucumber plants with some acropetal and basipetal movement
recorded from the treated leaves 12 hours after applications. Covering
the treated leaf did not alter the uptake of fluorodifen in any of the
three plant species. Following applications to stem and roots, a
similar pattern was observed, rapid uptake but little or no mobility.
The unicellular algae Chlorella was used to assess the effect of
fluorodifen on photosynthesis and respiration of green plant tissues.
It was found that the growth of Chlorella was severely affected by low
concentrations of fluorodifen in the light. The same herbicide concentrations
had no effect in the dark. Under the conditions of this study,
fluorodifen caused just a slight increase in the respiration of
Chlorella, while photosynthesis was severely inhibited at concentrations
of 1 ppm of fluorodifen.
In a separate study, the persistence of fluorodifen in soil subjected
to different environmental conditions was evaluated by gas
chromatography. Fluorodifen was degraded more readily under high
temperatures, provided that the soil was dry.
Genre Thesis/Dissertation
Topic Beans
Identifier http://hdl.handle.net/1957/25524

© Western Waters Digital Library - GWLA member projects - Designed by the J. Willard Marriott Library - Hosted by Oregon State University Libraries and Press