Effects of Light Quantities and Glucose on 2,4-D Toxicity to Canada Thistle

Abstract

Shade cages admitting three quantities of sunlight were placed in a dense field infestation of Canada thistle(Cirsium arvense(L.) Scop.), and the thistles were sprayed with (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D) and with 2,4-D plus glucose in 1968 and again in 1969. Necrosis was greatest under full sunlight and when glucose was added. Regrowth the years after spraying increased with decreasing daylight intensities, but it was not significantly influenced by the addition of glucose. Percentage of necrosis in the year of treatment was not correlated with the percentage of regrowth the following year.