Potential use of clomazone in common bean cultivars

Abstract

Weed interference can cause severe damages to common bean grain yield. Although the use of herbicides is considered as an efficient means to control weeds, there are just a few alternatives to use in pre-emergence applications. The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential use of pre-emergence applications of clomazone for five cultivars of common bean. Experiments were carried out under greenhouse conditions in a completely randomized design, and the treatments were increasing rates of clomazone (0, 300, 600 and 900 g ha^-1) applied to five cultivars of common bean: Diamante Negro, Jalo Precoce, Pérola, BRS Pontal and BRS Radiante. Increased rates of clomazone caused more visual injuries for all varieties. Increased rates of clomazone also inhibited plant growth, chlorophyll content and shoot dry mass for all cultivars except BRS Pontal. Cultivar Jalo Precoce was the most sensitive in relation to all parameters of crop injury. Chlorophyll contents in cv. BRS Radiante at 28 days after crop emergence (DAE) were not changed with increases in clomazone rate. For cv. BRS Pontal, increases in herbicide rate up to 900 g ha^-1 did not cause any reduction of crop growth, chlorophyll content and shoot dry mass at 28 DAE.