Field trials were conducted in 1997 and 1998 at two locations in Israel to evaluate the efficacy of imazapic applied postemergence (POST) to sunflower for broomrape control under irrigated and nonirrigated conditions. Two sequential treatments of imazapic at 1.5 followed by (FB) 3.0, 3.0 FB 4.5, or 4.5 FB 6.0 g ai/ha on sunflower plants 12 ± 3 and 55 ± 5 cm tall, respectively, reduced sunflower broomrape throughout the growing season under irrigated and nonirrigated conditions. Sunflower growth was not affected by imazapic treatments. It was confirmed, in accordance with an earlier report, that when sequential treatments of imazapic included an application at the sunflower inflorescence developmental stage, the herbicide decreased seed yield in proportion to the applied rate.

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Broomrapes (Orobanche spp.) are root holoparasitic plants that cause severe damage to economically important crops, especially in Mediterranean countries. Egyptian broomrape is the most troublesome weed on tomatoes grown for processing in Israel. In the present study, we tested the efficacy and selectivity of four sulfonylurea herbicides in controlling Egyptian broomrape on tomatoes grown in pots under greenhouse conditions. MON 37500, rimsulfuron, HOE 404 and SL-160 were applied postemergence (POST) and preplant incorporated (PPI) followed by POST applications. MON 37500 and rimsulfuron were more selective to tomato and controlled the parasite more effectively than HOE 404 and SL-160. MON 37500 and rimsulfuron at 50 and 100 g ai/ha and at 100, 150, and 200 g ai/ha, respectively, applied on tomato foliage 14, 28, and 42 d after planting (DAP) and followed by sprinkler irrigation to field capacity, resulted in complete control of the parasite. However, a significant reduction in control efficacy was observed when the experiment was repeated with charcoal-topped pots, suggesting that the herbicides act mainly through the soil. Except for rimsulfuron, the PPI followed by two POST treatments was more phytotoxic to tomato plants than the POST treatments. The PPI plus POST applications controlled Egyptian broomrape effectively, but tomato plants were injured by HOE 404 at all PPI application rates and by MON 37500 at the high rate at 150 g/ha. The present study determined that three POST applications or a PPI application followed by two POST applications of MON 37500 at 50 or 100 g/ha, or rimsulfuron at 100, 150, or 200 g/ha were effective and selective in controlling Egyptian broomrape on tomato, under greenhouse conditions.

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Summary The effect of metham‐sodium on Orobanche aegyptiaca Pers. was tested in the laboratory and in soil columns. The laboratory experiment was carried out on O. aegyptiaca seeds placed in Petri dishes and germinated with GR24, a synthetic strigol analogue. In soil columns, metham‐sodium was applied by application of the chemical through the irrigation water to three different soils and its dissipation determined in three soil layers by gas chromatography, by a lettuce bio‐assay to check the herbicide's phytotoxicity, and with a flax bioassay to check its effect on O. aegyptiaca. Results of the germination experiments showed an exponential decrease in O. aegyptiaca germination, parallel with the increase of metham‐sodium concentration, with an average effective concentration (EC50) of 18 mg L−1. In a soil column, methylisothiocyanate (MIT, the metham active product) rapidly disappeared from the upper soil level (0–10 cm) within 24 h. Seven days after application only traces of MIT remained in all soil layers in all soils, except for the sandy Rehovot soil that contained low concentrations in the lower soil layer (20–30 cm). Flax bioassay confirmed the chemical analysis, showing that O. aegyptiaca tubercles developed only on plants grown in the upper soil layer of all three soils.