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Herbicides for injection into flowing water: acrolein and endothal‐amine
Author(s) -
BOWMER KATHLEEN H.,
SMITH G. H.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
weed research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-3180
pISSN - 0043-1737
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3180.1984.tb00589.x
Subject(s) - acrolein , elodea canadensis , chemistry , dominance (genetics) , botany , environmental chemistry , aquatic plant , biology , ecology , biochemistry , macrophyte , catalysis , gene
Summary Treatment of flowing water by injection with acrolein is widely used in Australia and elsewhere for control of submerged aquatic plants. However, since acrolein has several disadvantages the amine salt of endothal has been assessed as an alternative for control of Elodea canadensis Rich., the most important species in blocking irrigation flow in south‐eastern Australia. Using an exposure time of 3 h in a static assay in the field the standard treatment with acrolein, nominally 15 ppm, was far more effective than endothal at about 5 ppm, similar results being obtained in spring, mid‐ and late summer. In a test over a range of concentrations in mid‐summer, acrolein gave 80% reduction of biomass at 2·8 ppm but endothal did not give this level of control even when more than 100 ppm was used. Endothal was also relatively ineffective when injected into flowing water. Measurements of net photosynthesis and lethality suggest that the order of tolerance to acrolein is Potamogeton tricarinatus F. Muell & A. Benn., > E. canadensis ≥ Vallisneria gigantea Graebner, so that routine treatments with acrolein may contribute directly to changes in relative species dominance. Use of sublethal concentrations of acrolein stimulated the growth of E. canadensis relative to untreated controls, perhaps by reducing the competition of aufwuchs.