ARS | Publication request: RESPONSE OF BELL PEPPER CULTIVARS TO BENTAZON

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 5, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Bell pepper growers are concerned that with the loss of methyl bromide for soil fumigation, yellow nutsedge will become unmanageable. Bentazon effectively controls yellow nutsedge. However, some bell pepper cultivars are susceptible to bentazon injury. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to assess the bentazon response of nine bell pepper cultivars that are currently grown commercially in the southeastern United States. Variability in bentazon tolerance was observed among the cultivars. The most tolerant, 'King Arthur', 'PR 9200-8' and 'Orobell', were not severely injured and their growth was not reduced by 2 kg/ha bentazon in the greenhouse, and their shoot weights and pepper yields were not reduced by up to 3 kg/ha bentazon in the field. The susceptible cultivars, 'Summer Sweet 860', 'Boynton Bell' and 'Camelot', were severely injured and their shoot weights were reduced by 1 kg/ha bentazon in the greenhouse and 3 kg/ha bentazon in the field. Other cultivars were intermediate in bentazo response. A field experiment was conducted to compare the bentazon response of the tolerant hybrid cultivar King Arthur with its F2 progeny. Both populations responded similarly to bentazon, and there was no genetic segregation for tolerance in the F2 population. The results of these experiments indicate that bentazon may be safely used for weed control in the most tolerant bell pepper cultivars.