THE EFFECTS OF SUB‐LETHAL DOSES OF MCPA ON THE MORPHOLOGY AND YIELD OF VEGETABLE CROPS

Abstract

Summary. The effect of sub‐lethal doses of MCPA‐sodium on the growth, yield and marketability of summer cabbage lettuce was studied in seventeen replicated field experiments.Initial epinasty was produced by doses as low as 0.002 lb/ac a.e., and formative effects of the leaves developed at doses below 0.01 lb/ac. In plants treated at early or intermediate growth stages, two distinct types of formative effects occurred, With doses in the range 0.0025‐0.03 lb/ac, a zone of characteristic abnormal leaves developed. This reduced the marketability of the crop and the maturity was delayed, but the weight per plant at harvest was not affected. At higher doses these a abnormal leaves were not evident but the whole plant became distorted, growth was suppressed and few marketable plants were produced. In plants treated at the hearting stage, plant weight and maturity were not affected, but the marketability was reduced at doses of 0.01 lb/ac and above. The effects produced by MCPA in cos and curly crisp lettuce were compared with those produced in cabbage lettuce.