The response of Chenopodium album L. and Abutilon theophrasti Medik. to reduced doses of mesotrione

Abstract

The application of minimal doses of herbicides is very popular due to concerns about the negative impacts of herbicides on the environment and public health. Studies were conducted to estimate the possibility of using quick and non- destructive methods to investigate Chenopodium album L. and Abutilon theophrasti Medik. response to mesotrione. The studies were conducted in a controlled environment to determine the response of C. album and A. theophrasti to mesotrione using dose–response curves created based on plant dry weight, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and chlorophyll content. The obtained effective dose values showed that the studied weeds were susceptible to reduced doses of mesotrione. ED₉₅ values estimated for both species for dry weight and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were lower than the recommended dose rate (120 g a.i. ha⁻¹), with less than 85 g a.i. ha⁻¹ needed to achieve a reduction of 95%, compared with untreated plants, while ED₉₅ value (A. theophrasti: 182 g a.i. ha⁻¹ and C. album: 180 g a.i. ha⁻¹) for chlorophyll content for both species was above the recommended dose rates. Consequently, dry weight and the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters are suitable for estimating the plant response to mesotrione, while chlorophyll content is not.

Keywords:

• Bioassay, Chenopodium album L.
• Abutilon theophrasti Medik.
• dose–response
• chlorophyll fluorescence
• chlorophyll content

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia [Project No. III46008].

Disclosure statement

No conflicts of interest have been declared.