Bell Pepper (Capsicum annuum) Tolerance to Imazosulfuron and Thifensulfuron-Methyl

Abstract

Greenhouse and field studies were conducted to evaluate bell pepper tolerance to the sulfonylurea herbicides imazosulfuron and thifensulfuron-methyl. Imazosulfuron was applied at 56, 112, 224, 336, or 448 g ai ha−1. Thifensulfuron-methyl was applied at 2.6, 5.3, 10.5, 21.0, or 31.6 g ai ha−1. In the greenhouse over 2 yr, bell pepper injury due to imazosulfuron POST ranged from 12 to 27%. Reductions in plant height and numbers of nodes, buds, flowers, and fruits were generally minor or not observed. Injury from thifensulfuron-methyl POST ranged from 40 to 60% in the greenhouse. Similar trends were observed for leaf chlorosis and distortion. Thifensulfuron-methyl tended to decrease numbers of buds, flowers, and fruits in the greenhouse. In the field at three sites, bell pepper injury due to imazosulfuron applied POST-directed (POST-DIR) was less than 10% at all rating times, and height and yield were not affected. Total and marketable yield averaged 40,300 and 35,810 kg ha−1, respectively, across environments and years. Bell pepper injury from thifensulfuron-methyl applied POST-DIR in the field was less than 20% with all rates and less than 10% when rates less than 10.6 g ai ha−1 thifensulfuron-methyl were applied. Bell pepper stand (plants ha−1) or height was not affected by thifensulfuron-methyl. Thifensulfuron-methyl did not affect total bell pepper yield (39,310 kg ha−1 averaged across environments); however, reductions in Fancy grade yield were observed. No. 1 and cull yield grades tended to increase with increasing thifensulfuron-methyl rate, apparently compensating for lost Fancy yield.