Feasibility Assessment of Halosulfuron and Flumioxazin Applications in Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Using Chlorophyll a Fluorescence Technique

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Scientific Researcher of Weed Science, Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, IRAN

2 Professor of Weed Science, Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Iran

10.22034/ijws.2024.133927

Abstract

Chlorophyll a fluorescence technique is a very simple, non-destructive, and fast method to evaluate photosynthetic reactions. In order to evaluate the effects of metribuzin, halosulfuron, and flumioxazin on chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters in potato, a greenhouse experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with three replications in the Agricultural Science and Natural Resources Department of Mohaghegh Ardabili University in 2021. Metribuzin, halosulfuron, and flumioxazin were used at seven different dosages. Chlorophyll a fluorescence was measured using an Opti-Sciences device at 1, 2, 4, and 8 days after herbicide application. Samples were exposed to 650 nm light at an intensity of 3000 µmol photons/m²/s after 20 minutes of dark adaptation. The results demonstrated that the highest reduction percentage of potato dry weight (63.75%) was observed with flumioxazin at 250 g a.i. ha-1. The potato dry weight data, fitted with a log-logistic equation illustrated that the lowest ED50 (67.89 g a.i. ha-1) was achieved from flumioxazin, indicating its high toxicity to potato. The findings suggested an increase in minimum fluorescence (F₀) and a decrease in maximum fluorescence (Fₘ) and variable fluorescence (Fᵥ) at four and eight days after spraying due to metribuzin, halosulfuron, and flumioxazin application. The data revealed that metribuzin and flumioxazin produced the highest and lowest ED₅₀ values for chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, respectively. As a result, flumioxazin led to a more significant reduction in photosystem II activity, primarily due to the damage caused to the photosynthetic system in potatoes.

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