The Response of Four Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) Cultivars to Five Sequential Applications of Four Preemergence Herbicides

Abstract

An experiment to determine the response of four potted anthurium cultivars to sequential preemergence herbicide applications was conducted at a commercial nursery located in Mt. View on the Island of Hawaii. The four cultivars tested were: Lady Ann, Sundial, Tropic Fire, and Nicoya. Herbicides were applied at two rates, the anticipated labeled use rate (1X) and two times the anticipated labeled use rate (2X). The herbicides evaluated in this experiment were diuron, isoxaben, sulfentrazone and oryzalin. Herbicide applications were directed to the base of plants to avoid direct contact with leaves and flowers. Applications were made at 64-, 69-, 70-, and 98-day intervals for a total of 5 sprays. At 71 days after the last spray application, each plant was collected to determine the number of flowers and dry weight accumulation of leaves, shoots and roots. There was a significant interaction between the chemical treatments and the cultivar for leaf dry weight accumulation. Sulfentrazone 1X and 2X significantly reduced the dry weight in all four cultivars compared to the untreated controls. Leaf weights for the isoxaben (1X) treatments were not significantly reduced for all cultivars. However, `Lady Anne' was significantly reduced at the 2X rate of isoxaben. Leaf weights for diuron and oryzalin at both 1X and 2X treatments were not significantly different from the untreated control. Only sulfentrazone reduced shoot dry weight and flower number. Diuron was the only herbicide that did not reduced root dry weight.