(218) Phytotoxicity of Several Herbicides in Pitahaya Grown under Plant Nursery Conditions

Abstract

At present, pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus Britt and Rose), a nonconventional crop and cactus native from Mexico, is considered very promising because of its high adaptability and tolerance to extreme agricultural conditions of tropical regions (poor soils, drought, and elevated temperatures), where they are cultivated. In addition, pitahaya fruit is well-accepted and identified as a nutraceutical food that lowers cholesterol and glucose levels in blood and might prevent stomach and colon cancers. However, little or no scientific information on chemical control alternatives of weeds in pitahaya commercial plantings have been generated. In this work, the phytotoxicity degree of seven commercial herbicides (metribuzin, glyphosate, glyphosate trimesium, paraqut, paraquat+diuron, atrazine, and halosulfuron methyl) in pitahaya plants grown under plant nursery conditions was assessed. A completely randomized design with 12 replications was used. The experimental unit was a flowerpot with a 5-month-old plants. The phytotoxicity degree was evaluated at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after application using the scale proposed by EWRS. The herbicides that caused injury to the plants were paraqua+diuron (79%) and paraquat (77%), respectively. Metribuzin, halosulfuron-methyl, and atrazine did not cause any injury to the plants.