Vitality of Tubers of Yellow Nutsedge Treated by Arsenical Herbicides

Abstract

We collected tubers from greenhouse-grown yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentusL.) control plants and plants foliarly-treated with 3.36 kg/ha of disodium methanearsonate (DSMA) or monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA). Where sufficient tubers were produced, they were separated into two classes, large and small. Some of the tubers were analyzed for elemental arsenic, and others were stored at 2 C and planted at various intervals. Vitality of tubers was noted in terms of sprouting and vegetative growth. Tubers collected from treated plants contained significantly more arsenic (4 to 33 ppm) than control tubers (1 ppm). Tubers collected from treated plants and planted without separation sprouted in significantly reduced numbers compared to control tubers. Small tubers contained a significantly higher concentration of arsenic (23 to 33 ppm) than large tubers (4 to 12 ppm). The treatments reduced the vitality of small tubers but had little or no effect on vitality of large tubers.