Response of Energycane to Preemergence and Postemergence Herbicides

Abstract

Energycane has been proposed as a potential, perennial bioenergy crop for lignocellulosic-derived fuel production in the United States. Herbicides currently used in sugarcane and other crops can potentially be used in energycane if there is acceptable tolerance. Also, to limit future invasion of energycane escapes, herbicides used for perennial grass control could potentially be used for management of escapes. In container studies conducted outside, aboveground and belowground biomass of energycane was measured to evaluate energycane tolerance to 9 PRE and 19 POST herbicides used in sugarcane and other crops. PRE application of atrazine, diuron, mesotrione, metribuzin, pendimethalin, andS-metolachlor at rates labeled for sugarcane did not significantly injure (< 3%) or reduce energycane biomass compared with the nontreated plants 28 and 56 d after treatment (DAT). Injury from clomazone (54%), flumioxazin (7%), and hexazinone (29%) was observed 28 DAT. Injury from flumioxazin was transient and was not observed at 56 DAT. At 56 DAT, energycane injury increased to 71 and 98%, respectively, for clomazone and hexazinone. Hexazinone and clomazone applied PRE significantly reduced biomass compared with the nontreated plants. At 28 DAT, POST application of 2,4-D amine, ametryn, asulam, atrazine, carfentrazone, dicamba, halosulfuron, mesotrione, metribuzin, and trifloxysulfuron at labeled rates for sugarcane did not injure or significantly reduce energycane biomass compared with the nontreated plants. Injury was observed when clethodim (99%), clomazone (51%), diuron (51%), flumioxazin (21%), glufosinate (84%), glyphosate (100%), hexazinone (100%), paraquat (66%), and sethoxydim (100%) were applied POST, and each of these treatments reduced energycane biomass compared with the nontreated plants. These results show that several PRE and POST herbicides used for weed management in sugarcane may potentially be used in energycane for weed control. Also, based on our results, clethodim, glyphosate, and sethoxydim would be effective for management of energycane escapes.

Sensibility of sugarcane cultivars to pre and post-emergence herbicides

“…Through the interaction, it was possible to verify there was a different response of the cultivars in relation to the action of the herbicides, being that phytotoxicity was more evidenced when using ametryn and diuron + hexazinone, applied to cultivars RB867515 and SP81-3250 (TABLE 3). There are reports in the literature about the interaction between cultivars and herbicides in sugarcane cultivation, which reinforces the premise that some cultivars may be more sensitive to some active ingredients than to others (BARELA;CHRISTOFFOLETI, 2006;ODERO et al, 2015).…”

“…The response of sugarcane cultivars to herbicides depends on biotic and abiotic factors. Thereby, it is important to evaluate the herbicide absorption by the plant as well as the effects of toxicity to validate doses, active ingredients and timing of application, which contribute for the plant to express its genetic potential (CERDEIRA et al, 2015;ODERO et al, 2015).…”

“…Several studies about weed control with systematic application of herbicides in pre and post-emergence conditions have demonstrated that, when the sugarcane is exposed to the action of agrochemicals, it can have morphological, physiological and technological changes (VIATOR;GRIFFIN;ELLIS, 2002;TORRES et al, 2012, ODERO et al, 2015.…”

Differential Tolerance of Sugarcane Cultivars to Clomazone

“…They were characterized by the whitening of the young tissues and subsequent necrosis, and, in some cases, the death of the leaves occurred (Figure 2). These symptoms are typical of herbicides that act on carotenoid biosynthesis, reducing the ability of these pigments to dissipate the excess energy in the aerial part of the plants (Odero et al, 2015). This excess of energy not dissipated by carotenoids promotes oxidative effects on the chlorophyll and on the photosynthetic membranes, resulting in characteristic symptoms (Figure 2) (Dan Hess, 2000).…”

Economic Threshold Levels for Signal Grass Control in Sugarcane Cultivars

“…The chemical method is the most frequently used for weed control in sugarcane fields because of its practicality, high efficiency, low cost and rapidity, and also the extensive areas of cultivation (Odero et al, 2015). Considering the long period that a crop should remain free of weed interference, commonly used herbicides have a long residual effect on the soil to control weed emergence in the area.…”