Effects of Foliarly Applied Desiccants on Selected Species under Tropical Environment

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Abstract
Several contact and growth-regulator herbicides were evaluated as desiccants on greenhouse-grown cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L., var Ashly), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench, var. Combine Kafir-60), mango (Mangifera indica L.), and field-grown guava (Psidium guajava L.). Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and 4,6-dinitro-o-sec-butylphenol (DNBP) consistently acted the fastest among compounds applied on several species. Herbicides such as 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium salt (paraquat) 6,7-dihydrodipyrido (1,2-a:2'c)pyrazidiinium salt (diquat), and the butyl esters of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid plus 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D:2,4,5-T) were equally effective within 3 days after treatment of some species. Several other herbicides and herbicide mixtures were evaluated. Herbicide specificity and speed of desiccation varied with species. Adjuvants increased the phototoxicity of some herbicides.