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Effect of ethofumesate on the epicuticular waxes of onion leaves, and on the response of plants to foliage‐applied herbicides
Author(s) -
RUBIN B.,
ADLER U.,
VARSANO RINA,
RABINOWITCH H. D.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1986.tb07658.x
Subject(s) - biology , wax , epicuticular wax , cultivar , horticulture , agronomy , botany , biochemistry
SUMMARY The herbicide ethofumesate is commonly used in onion fields in Israel. Experiments with four onion cultivars have shown the combination of a pre‐emergence treatment with ethofumesate and foliar application of a variety of herbicides to cause a marked decrease in plant fresh weight. This effect of ethofumesate was still evident when post‐emergence herbicides were applied as late as the third leaf stage of development. Significantly lower amounts of waxes were extracted with chloroform from the leaves of onion plants treated pre‐emergence with ethofumesate, at the rates of 0.2–0.8 kg/ha. SEM micrographs showed considerable changes in the onion epicuticular fine structure following these ethofumesate treatments. Furthermore, a significant increase in the penetration of 14 C‐labelled compounds into the onion leaves was measured. The possible implications of ethofumesate effects on onion leaf surface fine structure, are discussed.