Effect of Sulfonylurea Herbicides on Early Development of Egyptian Broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca) in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Abstract

The effect of the sulfonylurea herbicides, bensulfuron, chlorsulfuron, nicosulfuron, primisulfuron, rimsulfuron, thifensulfuron, and triasulfuron, on seed germination and radicle elongation of the parasitic plant, Egyptian broomrape, was tested in vitro without a host plant. These herbicides applied to the seeds at the preconditioning and germination stages significantly reduced radicle elongation of the parasite. Chlorsulfuron, rimsulfuron, and triasulfuron were further tested in polyethylene bags, where the parasite was able to parasitize tomato roots. Chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron applied at 2.5 and 25 μM ai and rimsulfuron at 5.0 μM ai, at the preconditioning and germination stages, almost completely inhibited parasite development, but at lower concentrations the parasite partially recovered 26 days after application. Chlorsulfuron inhibited parasite development for 34 d. Chlorsulfuron, triasulfuron, and rimsulfuron damaged parasite organs and caused rapid death of Egyptian broomrape tubercles when applied after the parasite had completed attachment to host roots. However, chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron at 25 μM ai were toxic to the tomato plants.