Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 January 2017
Flumioxazin has recently (2010) been registered for aquatic use for controlof hydrilla and other noxious invasive aquatic plant species. Due to therapid degradation of flumioxazin, especially in high pH water, some hydrillaresearch trials have produced less than desirable results with rapid plantregrowth. Therefore, laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate theinfluence of pH on flumioxazin's effect on photosynthesis. Flumioxazinapplied at concentrations ≥ 200 µg ai L−1 in high (9.0) pH waterand ≥ 100 µg L−1 in low (6.0) pH water required 68 to 123 h toreduce photosynthesis by 50% (ET50). The effect of 400 µg L−1 flumioxazin on photosynthesis of apical hydrilla tips wasalso compared at low (20 µmol m−2 s−1), medium (170µmol m−2 s−1), and high (400 µmol m−2 s−1) light levels at pH 9.0. Low light–treated tips were stillphotosynthetic at approximately 73% of the nontreated control plants 168 hafter treatment. Low light–treated hydrilla required an estimated 303 h toachieve a 50% reduction in photosynthesis, while high light plants onlyrequired 99 h. Chlorophyll content of hydrilla was reduced as flumioxazinconcentration was increased from 100 to 1,600 µg L−1. These dataindicate that flumioxazin activity on hydrilla photosynthesis is influencedby herbicide concentration, water pH, and light intensity.
Current address: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS 39180.