White clover is a weed in apple orchards that competes with the crop; also, flowers of this weed are unwanted attractants of honey bees at times when insecticides, which are harmful to these pollinators, are being applied. In 1997 and 1998, white clover flower head and plant control by clopyralid alone and with 2,4-D and apple tolerance to these herbicides were determined. Treatments consisted of clopyralid at 0.10 and 0.21 kg ae/ha, 2,4-D at 1.1 kg ae/ha, and 2,4-D at 1.1 kg ae/ha plus 0.03 or 0.05 kg ae/ha clopyralid, which were applied 2 wk before full apple bloom and 2 wk after full apple bloom, and a nontreated check. No crop injury occurred with any treatment. All herbicide treatments provided some white clover control and flower head suppression. No differences in white clover bloom reduction were observed through May among treatments containing clopyralid. As summer progressed, the effect of clopyralid rate became more apparent. Clopyralid at 0.21, regardless of application time, provided 99% vegetative control and 100% flower head reduction through July. Clopyralid plus 2,4-D controlled white clover better than 2,4-D alone. However, vegetative control and flower head reduction with clopyralid at reduced rates (0.03 or 0.05 kg ae/ha) plus 2,4-D were not acceptable (76% or less and 78% or less, respectively). Thus, clopyralid at 0.10 and 0.21 kg ae/ha will be necessary for acceptable white clover vegetation control and flower head reduction.

The limited window of opportunity for glyphosate postemergence (POST) over-the-top applications in glyphosate-resistant cotton poses a problem for growers where a midseason salvage weed control remedy is necessary. The objectives of these experiments were to compare glyphosate and MSMA for midseason weed control and their subsequent effect on cotton fruiting characteristics and yield. Glyphosate at 0.85 kg ai/ha was more effective than MSMA at 1.7 kg ai/ha for POST control of sicklepod, redweed, and pitted morningglory. Single glyphosate treatments applied at the 8-, 10-, or 12-leaf cotton stage resulted in less-effective weed control than when applied at the four-leaf cotton stage. Glyphosate applied at the four-leaf cotton stage followed by a sequential POST-directed application at 6-, 8-, 10-, or 12-leaf cotton stage increased season-long weed control and yield compared with a single application at the four-leaf stage. Both glyphosate and MSMA controlled Florida beggarweed, regardless of POST application timing. Generally, cotton was more tolerant to glyphosate than MSMA when applied over-the-top. Glyphosate applied POST over-the-top to weed-free 12-leaf cotton resulted in a 19 and 14% yield loss compared with the weed-free nontreated cotton in 1997 and 1999. MSMA reduced yield by 58 and 36% in 1997 and 1999, respectively. Glyphosate did not affect weed-free cotton fruit development or yield when applied over-the-top to four-leaf cotton or when a POST-directed application was followed at the 12-leaf stage.

Studies were conducted from 2001 through 2003 to determine the extent of resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors and glyphosate in Ohio horseweed biotypes. The response of 66 horseweed biotypes to cloransulam-methyl and glyphosate was determined in the greenhouse. Application of 0.07 kg ai cloransulam/ha reduced plant biomass by less than 60% for 38 of the 66 biotypes. Application of 3.4 kg ae glyphosate/ha reduced biomass by at least 80% for the 51 biotypes collected in 2001, but biomass was similar to that of nontreated plants for 11 of the 15 populations collected in 2002. A dose–response study was conducted with selected biotypes, and a nonlinear, logistic dose–response curve was fit to the data to calculate the herbicide dose required to reduce fresh weight 50% (GR50). On the basis of GR50 values, the resistance ratio (R/S) for two ALS-resistant biotypes was 34 and 943 for chlorimuron-ethyl and 32 and 168 for cloransulam, respectively. The R/S ratio for two glyphosate-resistant biotypes was 33 and 39. Results of these studies indicate that, in 2002, ALS-resistant horseweed was widespread throughout Ohio, whereas resistance to glyphosate occurred primarily in several counties in southwestern Ohio.

Perennial pepperweed, found throughout the western United States, reduces biodiversity and causes economic losses in the form of control costs as well as decreased quantity and quality of agricultural yields. The future stream of net benefits of weed management and the future point in time at which they will have accumulated enough to equal total management costs were estimated under different land-use and expansion rate scenarios. Benefits and costs were calculated in present value terms by applying a rate of discount to future values. On land used solely for grazing, the total economic returns from management did not equal total costs until 15 yr after initial treatment. However, on land used for grazing plus hay harvest, cumulative benefits equaled and began to exceed cumulative costs after 4 to 5 yr. The costs and benefits of management efforts were also estimated for a landowner, who controls an adjacent infestation before it spreads. This landowner benefited economically from weed management in as little as 5 to 6 yr, highlighting the importance of cooperative efforts to control nearby weed infestations.

CGA-362622 has been registered for postemergence (POST) over-the-top or POST-directed application in cotton. Research was conducted during 1998 in Texas to determine potential cotton phytotoxicity after POST application of CGA-362622 alone and with the insecticides acephate, dicrotophos, azinphos methyl, oxamyl, thiamethoxam, dimethoate, and malathion and to determine the response of four cotton cultivars to CGA-362622 applied alone. CGA-362622 applied with malathion injured cotton more than either pesticide applied alone, and yield was reduced in one of four locations when the pesticides were applied in mixture compared with nontreated cotton. Pyrithiobac or CGA-362622 mixed with malathion injured cotton similarly. The other insecticides tank mixed with CGA-362622 generally did not adversely affect cotton. The cotton cultivars ‘Delta and Pine Land 50’, ‘Paymaster 1220’, ‘Paymaster 1220RR’, and ‘Stoneville 474’ responded similarly to CGA-362622 applied alone or with insecticides.

Turf managers combine ethephon with trinexapac-ethyl (TE) on bentgrass greens to suppress annual bluegrass, inhibit turf growth, and enhance turf quality; however, effects of this growth regulator combination have not been reported on bermudagrass greens. Two experiments were conducted at the Clemson University Greenhouse Complex to investigate the response of ‘TifEagle’ bermudagrass to ethephon and TE. TifEagle bermudagrass plugs were placed in pots with 23-cm depths, 324-cm2 total surface areas, and a soil medium of an 85:15 (v/v) sand and peat moss mix. Ethephon was applied at 0, 3.8 (EP1), and 7.6 (EP2) kg ai/ha/3 wk with TE at 0 and 0.04 kg ai/ha/ 3 wk over a 9-wk period. Initial responses of bermudagrass to ethephon included chlorotic leaves and severe thinning. Bermudagrass treated with ethephon had quality reduced as much as 33% from nontreated turf. TE enhanced turf quality 4 to 22% from 4 to 9 wk after initial treatment. TE helped mask ethephon-induced quality decline after the third application. In the presence of TE, bermudagrass clipping yield was reduced from nontreated turf by 57, 70, and 72% when ethephon was applied at 0, 3.8, and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk. Ethephon linearly reduced root mass after 9 wk from nontreated turf by 20 and 33% at 3.8 and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk, respectively. Compared with respective ethephon rates alone, bermudagrass treated with TE and ethephon at 0, 3.8, and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk, averaged 28, 8, and 15% more root mass. Ethephon at 3.8 and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk without TE reduced TifEagle bermudagrass root length 14 and 16%, respectively, compared with untreated turf. Bermudagrass treated with ethephon at 0, 3.8, and 7.6 kg/ha/3 wk with TE averaged 3, 11, and 17% higher root length compared with respective ethephon rates after 9 wk. Overall, ethephon may have negative effects on TifEagle root mass, root length, and turf quality. However, combining ethephon with TE may help reduce these deleterious effects.

Field trials were conducted in 2001 at the Tobacco Research Station near Oxford, NC, and in 2002 at the Lower Coastal Plains Research Station near Kinston, NC, to determine tobacco yield, injury, and shikimic acid accumulation in response to simulated glyphosate drift. Glyphosate was applied to 12- to 13-cm-high tobacco ‘K326’ early postemergence at 0, 9, 18, 35, 70, 140, 280, 560, and 1,120 (1×) g ai/ha. Crop injury was rated 7 and 35 d after treatment (DAT) and shikimic acid accumulation in leaves at 7 DAT, tobacco yield, and leaf grade index (whole-plant index of harvest interval leaf value) were also assessed. Shikimic acid accumulation and injury symptoms increased similarly as glyphosate rate increased. Glyphosate rates of 140 g/ha (0.125 of recommended rate) or higher resulted in significant crop injury, reduced tobacco yield, and decreased leaf grade index. Shikimic acid accumulation at 7 DAT was inversely related to tobacco yield. Shikimic acid accumulation was found to be an effective diagnostic tool to determine glyphosate drift in tobacco; however, in-season data are needed to correlate shikimic acid accumulation with yield loss.

Field studies were established in 1999 and 2000 to evaluate Italian ryegrass, wheat, and double-crop soybean response to fall and spring postemergence applications of flucarbazone, sulfosulfuron, clodinafop, diclofop, and tralkoxydim applied alone and in combination with thifensulfuron + tribenuron to winter wheat. Fall-applied herbicides caused 5% or less wheat injury. Spring-applied herbicides caused 3 to 45% wheat injury, and the greatest injury occurred with the combination of flucarbazone with thifensulfuron + tribenuron in the spring of 2001. Spring-applied sulfosulfuron, tralkoxydim, diclofop, and clodinafop caused 3 to 6% and 16 to 26% wheat injury in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Herbicide injury to wheat did not reduce wheat grain yield compared with the hand-weeded treatment. Italian ryegrass competition in the nontreated plots reduced wheat yield by as much as 33% compared with herbicide-treated plots. Italian ryegrass control was 89 to 99% from clodinafop and diclofop and 78 to 97% from flucarbazone, with no differences because of application timing in either year of the study. Italian ryegrass control from sulfosulfuron and tralkoxydim was greater from the spring of 2000 applications (94 to 99%) compared with the fall of 1999 applications (65 to 88%). However, in 2001, application timing (fall vs. spring) for sulfosulfuron and tralkoxydim did not affect Italian ryegrass control. Thifensulfuron + tribenuron combined with tralkoxydim reduced control of Italian ryegrass control compared with tralkoxydim alone in both years of the study. Italian ryegrass control was not reduced when thifensulfuron + tribenuron was combined with sulfosulfuron, flucarbazone, diclofop, or clodinafop. Italian ryegrass was controlled effectively by the acetyl-CoA carboxylase–inhibiting herbicides diclofop, clodinafop, and tralkoxydim. However, control of Italian ryegrass with the acetolactate synthase–inhibiting herbicides flucarbazone and sulfosulfuron was inconsistent. Double-crop soybean after wheat did not have foliar symptoms or yield loss from fall- or spring-applied herbicides.

Field studies were conducted from 1998 through 2000 to compare weed population shifts in soybean and cotton using a total glyphosate system, preemergence (PRE) herbicides followed by glyphosate, and a conventional herbicide program. In the first year of the soybean study, populations of hemp sesbania were highest for treatments of PRE herbicides followed by either glyphosate or the conventional herbicide program because of better control from the total glyphosate system. Barnyardgrass populations in the first year of the study for the nontreated plots were 0 plants/m2 but increased in the third year to 61 plants/m2. Flumetsulam plus metolachlor followed by glyphosate at the lower rates and the nontreated check were the only treatments in which there was an increase in barnyardgrass over the 3-yr study. Broadleaf signalgrass populations increased in the third year with 0.1 kg ai/ha flumetsulam plus 2.1 kg ai/ha metolachlor followed by 0.84 kg ae/ha glyphosate, primarily because of reduced competition from lower populations of other weeds such as hemp sesbania. Pitted morningglory populations for all treatments decreased in the third year because of good control of this species and the high level of interference from other weed species in the first 2 yr. Johnsongrass populations decreased in the third year with 0.4 kg ai/ha flumetsulam plus 1.1 kg ai/ha metolachlor followed by 0.84 kg/ha glyphosate. Johnsongrass populations decreased with timely glyphosate sequential applications, with 5 plants/m2 in 1998 and 0 plants/m2 in 2000. Yields increased from the first year to the second year, corresponding to reduced weed pressure, and yields varied from 710 to 1,420 kg/ha. Because of weed pressure, soybean yields were not different in any of the treatments, including the nontreated, although treatments changed the species present. In the cotton study, weed populations over the 3 yr decreased, with the most significant reductions from the treatments of fluometuron plus prometryn plus metolachlor followed by either pyrithiobac or glyphosate. Weeds that showed the most significant decline were barnyardgrass and hemp sesbania, whereas johnsongrass increased, with 27 plants/m2 in treatments of 0.6 kg ai/ha fluometuron plus 0.3 kg ai/ha prometryn plus 0.7 kg ai/ha metolachlor followed by 0.84 kg/ha glyphosate. Lint cotton yields varied from 0 to 128 kg/ha. Because of the weed pressure, cotton yields were not different in any of the treatments, although treatments changed the species present. This research has shown that weed species can decrease over time with the continued use of any of these herbicide programs.

A 2-yr experiment evaluated the effect of spring soil disturbance on the periodicity of weed emergence. At four locations across the northeastern United States, emerged weeds, by species, were monitored every 2 wk in both undisturbed plots and plots tilled in the spring with a rotary cultivator. Eight weed species including large crabgrass, giant and yellow foxtail, common lambsquarters, smooth pigweed, eastern black nightshade, common ragweed, and velvetleaf occurred at three or more site-years. Spring soil disturbance either had no effect or reduced total seedling emergence compared with undisturbed soils. Total seedling emergence for large crabgrass, giant foxtail, smooth pigweed, and common ragweed were on average, 1.4 to 2.6 times less with spring soil disturbance, whereas eastern black nightshade and velvetleaf were mostly unaffected by the soil disturbance. The influence of soil disturbance on yellow foxtail and common lambsquarters emergence varied between seasons and locations. Although the total number of emerged seedlings was often affected by the soil disturbance, with the exception of yellow foxtail and common ragweed, the periodicity of emergence was similar across disturbed and undisturbed treatments.

Although dandelion has been recognized for some time as a common weed of perennial plant stands, recent weed surveys in western Canada indicate that dandelion has become more common in fields where annual spring crops are grown. Because little has been published on dandelion control in annual crops, a field study was conducted at two locations in southern Manitoba in 1999 and 2000 investigating the effect of spring tillage, glyphosate dosage, and application timing on dandelion control in a spring annual glyphosate-resistant canola crop. The experiments were situated in areas known to have natural infestations of dandelion. Final assessments of dandelion control were performed the spring following treatment, i.e., the next year, to provide a better indication of treatment efficacy on this perennial weed. Spring tillage alone did not significantly reduce dandelion density, as assessed the following spring, but did reduce dandelion shoot dry matter at three of the five site-years by up to 84%. Glyphosate was applied preplant, in-crop, and postharvest at dosages ranging from 450 g ae/ha in-crop to 2,700 g ae/ha postharvest. Glyphosate application after the canola crop had been harvested provided the greatest level of dandelion control, with a single postharvest application of 900 g ae/ha of glyphosate reducing dandelion density and shoot dry matter by 88 and 96%, respectively, the following spring. Applications of glyphosate either preplant or in-crop were not nearly as effective as the postharvest treatments in reducing dandelion density and shoot dry matter the following spring.

A study was conducted in 2000 and 2001 to evaluate interaction of fenoxaprop with other herbicides for barnyardgrass control in rice. Changes in herbicide interaction over time were also evaluated, and herbicide combinations were ranked on the basis of compatibility. Fenoxaprop at 0.075 kg/ha plus bentazon or propanil plus molinate resulted in an additive response for barnyardgrass control at 10, 20, and 30 d after treatment (DAT); however, when the rate of fenoxaprop increased to 0.089 kg/ha, an antagonistic effect was found. Carfentrazone and halosulfuron consistently antagonized the activity of fenoxaprop at both rates on barnyardgrass. Bensulfuron at 10 and 20 DAT and triclopyr at 20 DAT were antagonistic to fenoxaprop. An increase in interaction over time was detected when fenoxaprop at 0.089 kg/ha was applied in mixture with carfentrazone at 0.04 kg/ha or halosulfuron at 0.05 kg/ha. These results indicate that propanil plus molinate and bentazon are more compatible with fenoxaprop at 0.075 kg/ha for barnyardgrass control, whereas bensulfuron, carfentrazone, halosulfuron, and triclopyr can antagonize fenoxaprop activity on barnyardgrass.

Weed-wipers may provide effective weed control while minimizing the application of herbicide to nontarget species in rangeland and pasture. To date, few herbicides are recommended for use in weed wiping systems. We assessed Canada thistle and non–Canada thistle herbage responses in two experiments in pastures, the first examining wiped glyphosate, the second comparing glyphosate with three broadleaf herbicides at cost-equivalent concentrations [on a volume to volume (v/v) dilution basis]. In both studies, wiping with a glyphosate solution (33% v/v, equivalent to a one to two dilution ratio of herbicide to water) resulted in lower Canada thistle density and biomass than check plots, with control lasting up to 2 yr. However, significant reductions in grass biomass also occurred and were associated with an increase in the abundance of weedy annual forbs. In contrast, wiping with a concentrated solution of clopyralid (2% v/v), picloram plus 2,4-D (20% v/ v), or 2,4-D plus mecoprop plus dicamba (24% v/v), resulted in similar levels of Canada thistle control but no reduction in grass biomass. Despite direct application of herbicides to tall weeds, clover species in mixed stands were injured. In grass-dominated pastures, wiping with broadleaf herbicides was superior to nonselective glyphosate because the former more effectively balanced Canada thistle control with the retention of grass production.

A study was conducted in 2002 and 2003 to evaluate response of seven rice cultivars to V-10029 applied at 20 and 40 g ai/ha to two- to three- or four- to five-leaf rice. Differential response of the rice cultivars to V-10029 was observed. Medium-grain ‘Earl’ was less tolerant to V-10029, as reflected by increased injury, shorter plants, and fewer plants at 7 d after late postemergence treatment and shorter plants and lower grain yield at harvest, when compared with nontreated Earl. Growth of medium-grain ‘Bengal’ was initially inhibited by V-10029; however, plant height at harvest and rice grain yield of Bengal were not affected. All long-grain cultivars exhibited tolerance to V-10029, both initially and at harvest. The results indicate that rice cultivars vary in tolerance to V-10029.

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of preemergence (PRE) herbicides metolachlor at 1,700 g ai/ha, pyrithiobac at 70 g ai/ha, or pendimethalin at 840 g ai/ha applied alone or with fluometuron at 1,300 g ai/ha and glyphosate postemergence (POST) at 840 g ai/ha on seedling diseases in glyphosate-resistant cotton. Hypocotyl disease severity both years averaged across PRE herbicide treatments was greater after glyphosate application to four-leaf cotton than cotyledon cotton. The PRE herbicide treatments, particularly those including fluometuron, increased root and hypocotyl disease ratings compared with a nontreated control, and a sequential application of glyphosate did not further increase disease severity. Greenhouse experiments using soil infested with Rhizoctonia solani confirmed findings from the field study showing that PRE herbicides can predispose cotton to greater seedling disease injury with no increased seedling disease severity associated with application of glyphosate. In the field study, glyphosate applied at cotyledon or four-leaf growth stages decreased disease severity on cotton hypocotyls both years. This inhibitory effect of glyphosate was less evident in the greenhouse study and may have been related to species of fungi present, infestation level, and differences in environmental conditions when compared with the field.

Herbicides are an important tool for managing weeds where prescribed fire is used for rangeland improvement. Understanding how the season of herbicide application relates to prescribed burning is important. Our objective was to determine the effect of picloram and chlorsulfuron on Dalmatian toadflax cover, density, and biomass, where these herbicides were applied in the fall before burning or in the spring before or after burning. Six herbicide treatments and an untreated check were applied in a randomized complete block design with four replications to a prescribed burn at two sites infested with Dalmatian toadflax in Montana, United States. Herbicides were applied in the fall preburn, spring preburn, and spring postburn. Site 1 was treated in 1999 and 2000, and site 2 was treated in 2000 and 2001. Cover, biomass, and density of Dalmatian toadflax were sampled in September 2000, 2001, and 2002 at site 1 and September 2001 and 2002 at site 2. At site 1, cover, biomass, and density of Dalmatian toadflax were at least 76% lower compared with the check in both spring-applied picloram treatments, whereas the fall picloram treatment had similar Dalmatian toadflax cover, biomass, and density compared with the check 3 yr after application. By 2002, chlorsulfuron reduced Dalmatian toadflax cover, biomass, and density by at least 79% compared with the check in all timings of application at site 1. At site 2, Dalmatian toadflax cover, biomass, and density were reduced by at least 86% for all picloram and chlorsulfuron treatments in 2002, 2 yr after application. Chlorsulfuron applied in the fall or the spring and picloram applied in the spring effectively suppressed Dalmatian toadflax cover, biomass, and density for up to 3 yr.

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of herbicide and mulch on weed management and strawberry yield. Napropamide at rates of 4.50, 6.75, or 9.00 kg ai/ha; oxyfluorfen at 0.57 kg ai/ha; and napropamide plus oxyfluorfen at 4.50 plus 0.57 kg/ha were applied pretransplant on pressed beds covered with either low-density polyethylene mulch or virtually impermeable film. There was no herbicide by mulch interaction. Mulch types had no influence on weed counts and fruit yield, whereas herbicides affected both variables. The napropamide plus oxyfluorfen treatment resulted in the highest fruit number and weight, increasing yield by 20% with respect to the nontreated control. This herbicide combination provided the best weed suppression.

Diflufenzopyr is an auxin-transport inhibitor that has increased broadleaf weed control by some auxin herbicides. The effects of auxin herbicides when applied with diflufenzopyr for leafy spurge or Canada thistle control, herbage production, and herbicide absorption and translocation in leafy spurge were evaluated. The influence of diflufenzopyr on leafy spurge and Canada thistle control varied by herbicide. Diflufenzopyr applied with quinclorac increased both Canada thistle and leafy spurge control. Diflufenzopyr added to picloram increased leafy spurge but not Canada thistle control, whereas control of both weeds generally increased when diflufenzopyr was applied with dicamba. Canada thistle control slightly improved when diflufenzopyr was applied with clopyralid or clopyralid plus 2,4-D compared with the herbicides alone. Diflufenzopyr did not influence weed control from imazapic and reduced weed control from glyphosate. Weed control was not influenced by the ratio of diflufenzopyr to herbicide or by whether diflufenzopyr was tank mixed with or applied before the herbicides. Diflufenzopyr did not affect cool-season grass production in the greenhouse or field but did reduce sideoats grama and switchgrass production when applied alone and with dicamba in greenhouse trials. 14C-picloram and 14C-quinclorac absorption was increased when applied with diflufenzopyr in leafy spurge but nearly all absorbed herbicide remained in the treated leaf compared with the herbicides applied alone. 14C-dicamba absorption decreased from 60 to 14% when applied with diflufenzopyr and translocation to the roots decreased by a factor of 10. Overall, the increase in weed control from the addition of diflufenzopyr was much more pronounced with leafy spurge than with Canada thistle.

Limited information exists on sweet corn tolerance to postemergence (POST) applications of clopyralid under Ontario growing conditions. Eight sweet corn hybrids were evaluated for tolerance to clopyralid in three field experiments conducted in 2001 and 2002 in Ontario. Clopyralid was applied POST at 200 and 400 g ai/ha, the proposed and twice the proposed registered rate for use in sweet corn in Ontario. Sweet corn response to clopyralid did not vary among the hybrids tested. In 2001, visual injury among hybrids 7 d after treatment (DAT) with clopyralid at 400 g/ha was less than 3%. Subsequent visual injury evaluations at 14 and 28 DAT showed no differences among sweet corn hybrids at either rate of clopyralid evaluated. The application of clopyralid at 200 and 400 g/ ha had no detrimental effect on plant height or marketable yield of any of the eight sweet corn hybrids. On the basis of visual injury, height, and marketable yield response ‘Calico Belle’, ‘CNS 710’, ‘DelMonte 2038’, ‘GG 222’, ‘GG 246’, ‘GH 2684’, ‘Reveille’, and ‘Rival’ are all tolerant to the POST application of clopyralid.

Studies were conducted at four sites during a 2-yr period in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas to determine effectiveness and safety of halosulfuron in honeydew crops. Halosulfuron applied postemergence at 26.3 to 78.8 g ai/ha controlled yellow nutsedge 85 to 97%, golden crownbeard 100%, and tumble pigweed 83 to 95%. Control of yellow nutsedge continued to increase for 3 to 6 wk after treatment. Golden crownbeard and tumble pigweed efficacy increased to its highest levels after 4 and 3 wk, respectively. Reduced crop growth and yellowing of foliage did not exceed 13%. No differences were recorded for yield, earliness, or percentage of marketable fruit.