Dicamba residue persistence in processing tomato

Abstract

There is zero tolerance for dicamba and dicamba metabolite residue in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit following exposure to dicamba. Field trials were conducted in 2020 and 2021 to determine the persistence of dicamba and metabolite [5-hydroxy dicamba and 3,6-dichlorosalicylic acid (DCSA)] residue in processing tomato shoots and fruits. Dicamba was applied 49 days after transplanting at 0, 0.53, 5.3, and 53 g ae ha−1. Tomato plants were harvested 5, 10, 20, 40, and 61 days after treatment (DAT). No 5-hydroxy dicamba was recovered from any sample. In 2020, the DCSA metabolite was detected from tomato shoot tissue when dicamba was applied at 53 g ha−1 rate at 0 (14 µg kg−1), 5 (3 µg kg−1), and 20 DAT (5 µg kg−1) and in tomato fruit tissue at 53 g ha−1 at 20 (2 µg kg−1) and 61 DAT (2 µg kg−1). In 2021, DCSA was not detected from tomato shoot or fruit tissues at any harvest date. By 5 DAT, dicamba was only detected from tomato shoot tissues treated with 53 g ha−1. At 0 DAT, dicamba residue was detectable only from tomato fruit on plants treated with 53 g ha−1. Tomato fruit dicamba residue from plants treated with 5.3 g ha−1 had a predicted peak of 19 µg kg−1 at 11.3 DAT. Tomato fruit dicamba residue from plants treated with 53 g ha−1 decreased from 164 to 8 µg kg−1 from 5 to 61 DAT. Furthermore, this study confirms that dicamba is detectable in tomato fruits 61 DAT following exposure to 5.3 or 53 g ha−1 dicamba. Growers who suspect dicamba exposure should include tomato fruit tissue with their collected sample or sample tomato fruits separately.

Practical Knowledge of Injuries Caused by Simulated Herbicide Drift in Young Tomato Plants

“…The most common plant symptoms under the effects of these herbicides are epinasty, stem and branch curvature, and growth arrest with meristem chlorosis, followed by necrosis [19,20]. Our results obtained in this study are consistent with those found by Meyers et al [21], where dicamba drift negatively affected tomato plants and compromised fruit productivity. In addition, Warmund et al [4] reported that tomato cultivars treated with herbicide 2,4-D and dicamba can produce less total and marketable yield than their respective non-treated control.…”

Peach tree response to low dosages of dicamba as repeated application or with various spray nozzles

“…Soybean injury in response to florpyrauxifen-benzyl was detectable at a distance farther from a drift source than was detectable in spray deposits (Butts et al 2022). In experiments with processing tomatoes, dicamba and dicamba residues from applications of 1/100X and 1/1,000X rates were detectable only in shoot tissues on the day of exposure (Meyers et al 2022). However, the dicamba residues were more persistent in tomato fruit, indicating the potential for crop rejection at the market, based on agricultural regulations (U.S. Code of Federal Regulations 2022).…”

“…The potential for dicamba exposure on crops has been well characterized, whether through herbicide drift, volatilization, or sprayer contamination (Behrens and Lueschen 1979; Egan et al 2014; Inman et al 2021). Specialty crops are especially impacted by off-target movement of dicamba due to their high value and the potential for dicamba residues to make crops like tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L.) and tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) unmarketable (Inman et al 2021; Meyers et al 2022). The effects of dicamba exposure have been assessed extensively in annual specialty crop systems, including crops of the Brassicaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Ipomoaceae, and Solanaceae families (Culpepper et al 2018; Hand et al 2020; Inman et al 2021; Mohseni-Moghadam and Doohan 2015; Shankle et al 2021; Wasacz et al 2022a).…”

Chemical Weed Control and Crop Injuries Due to Spray Drift: The Case of Dicamba

“…Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) [7,17,18] Rice (Oryza sativa L.) [19] Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) [20] Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) [21] Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) [18,22,23] Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) [18] Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duch) [18] Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) [18] Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) [18] Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) [18] Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) [7] Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) [7] Snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) [7] Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) [24] Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) [25] Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) [26] Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) [27] Brazilian peppertree (Schimus terebinthifolius Raddi.)…”