Potential safeners for protecting sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) against chlorsulfuron, fluazifop‐butyl and sethoxydim*

Abstract

Summary:In greenhouse studies, the efficacy of the herbicide safeners NA(1,8‐naphthalic anhydride), R‐25788 (N,N‐diallyl‐2,2‐dichloroacetamide), cyometrinil and CGA‐92194 [N‐(1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐yl‐methoxy)imino‐benzeneaceto‐nitrile] in protecting grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, cv. ‘Funk G623’) against injury from pre‐emergence or early post‐emergence applications of the herbicides chlorsulfuron, fluazifop‐butyl and sethoxydim was examined. NA as a seed dressing at 0·5 or 1·0% (w/w) was the most effective of the four safeners and offered partial to good protection to sorghum against injury from the lower rates of pre‐emergence applications of all three herbicides. R‐25788 was totally ineffective as a sorghum protectant against fluazifop‐butyl injury but it did antagonize partially the injurious effects of the lower rates of sethoxydim and chlorsulfuron on sorghum. Cyometrinil and CGA‐92194 offered partial protection to sorghum against injury from the lowest rate of all herbicides but their efficacy against higher rates of the three herbicides was very limited. None of the four safeners was effective in protecting grain sorghum against injury from post‐emergence applications of the three herbicides tested.