Experiments were conducted to evaluate efficacy of dicamba, glufosinate, and glyphosate on Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.). Residual control was evaluated after dicamba was applied alone and in combination with fomesafen, fluometuron, acetochlor, and prometryn. Postemergence efficacy of dicamba, glufosinate, and glyphosate on different size Palmer amaranth was also evaluated. In addition, combinations of dicamba, glufosinate, and glyphosate were evaluated for efficacy on Palmer amaranth as well as spray coverage and spray droplet size as affected by various spray nozzles. Lastly, tolerance to dicamba, glufosinate, and glyphosate of cotton cultivars containing Bollgard II® XtendFlex™ technology was examined. Dicamba exhibited preemergence activity on Palmer amaranth; however, activity was heavily dependent on rainfall. Postemergence applications of dicamba increased control of Palmer amaranth. Spray nozzle selection influenced spray coverage and droplet size. Tolerance of cultivars containing Bollgard II® XtendFlex™ technology was over 90% at the end of the year regardless of herbicide.

Em 1998 foi aprovado no Brasil o evento GTS 40-3-2 (Roundup Ready™ - RR), que confere tolerância ao herbicida glyphosate em soja. Outra tecnologia de tolerância a herbicida disponível para soja é a Liberty Link® - LL (A2704-12 e A5547-127), que confere tolerância ao glufosinate. O evento DAS44406-6 (Enlist E3™ - E3) confere tolerância ao glyphosate, 2,4-D e glufosinate. Assim, objetivou-se com o presente estudo avaliar os efeitos de glyphosate no desempenho agronômico e índices de clorofila de soja E3 e RR, aplicado em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento. Avaliar os efeitos de glufosinate no desempenho agronômico e índices de clorofila de soja E3 e LL, aplicado em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento. Avaliar efeitos do herbicida 2,4-D colina, isolado e em associação com glyphosate ou glufosinate, no desempenho agronômico e índices de clorofila de soja E3, para a aplicação em pós-emergência (V4). Foram conduzidos três experimentos, repetidos nas safras 2016/17 e 2017/18, em Mogi-Mirim, SP. O experimento I constituído da aplicação de glyphosate (1.440 g e.a. ha-1), os tratamentos foram dispostos em arranjo fatorial 2X4 (evento X estádio de desenvolvimento). Para o fator evento foram utilizados E3 e RR. Para estádio, controle (sem aplicação), V4, V6 e R2. O experimento II da aplicação de glufosinate (460 g i.a. ha-1), os tratamentos foram dispostos em arranjo fatorial 2X4 (evento X estádio de desenvolvimento). Para o fator evento foram utilizados E3 e LL. Para estádio, os mesmo do experimento I. O experimento III foi constituido da aplicação 2,4-D, glyphosate e glufosinate no estádio V4 da soja E3. Foram avaliados os sintomas de injúria, índices de clorofila, e variáveis relacionadas ao desempenho agronômico. Não foram obsevadas reduções nos índices de clorofila e no desempenho agronômico da soja. Constatou-se a seletividade equivalente de glyphosate para soja E3 e RR, independente do estádio de desenvolvimento. Assim como, a seletividade equivalente de glufosinate para soja E3 e LL, independente do estádio de desenvolvimento. Também constatou-se a seletividade de 2,4-D colina isolado ou em associações com glyphosate ou glufosinate em soja E3. / In 1998 the GTS 40-3-2 (Roundup Ready™ - RR) event, which confers tolerance to glyphosate herbicide on soybean. Another herbicide tolerance technology available for soybeans is Liberty Link® - LL (A2704-12 and A5547-127), which confers tolerance to glufosinate. The DAS44406-6 (Enlist E3™ - E3) event confers tolerance glyphosate, 2,4-D and glufosinate. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of glyphosate on agronomic performance and chlorophyll indexes of E3 and RR soybean, applied at different stages of development. To evaluate the effects of glufosinate on the agronomic performance and chlorophyll indexes of E3 and LL soybean, applied at different stages of development. To evaluate the effects of 2,4-D (choline), isolated and in association with glyphosate or glufosinate, on agronomic performance and chlorophyll indexes of E3 soybean, for post-emergence (V4). Three experiments were carried out, repeated in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons, in Mogi-Mirim, SP. The experiment I consisted of the application of glyphosate (1.440 g e.a. ha-1), treatments were arranged in factorial arrangement 2X4 (event X development stage). For the event factor were used E3 and RR. For stadium, control (without application), V4, V6 and R2. The experiment II consisted of the application of glufosinate (460 g e.a. ha-1), treatments were arranged in factorial arrangement 2X4 (event X development stage). For the event factor were used E3 and LL. For stage, the same of experiment I. The experiment III was constituted of the application 2,4-D, glyphosate and glufosinate in the V4 stage of soybean E3. Were evaluated the crop injury, chlorophyll indexes, and variables related to agronomic performance. No reductions in chlorophyll indexes and agronomic performance of soybean were observed. It was found the equivalent of glyphosate selectivity to E3 and RR soybean, regardless of the development stage. As well as, the equivalent selectivity of glufosinate for E3 and LL soybean, regardless of development stage. Also the selectivity of 2,4-D isolated or in associations with glyphosate or glufosinate in E3 soybean.

Submitted by Fábio Henrique Krenchinski (fhkrenchinski@gmail.com) on 2018-09-02T21:16:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertação_normas_versão final.pdf: 4468078 bytes, checksum: 834889e17086c0871a6f34bdef5de98a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Lucia Martins Frederico null (mlucia@fca.unesp.br) on 2018-09-03T11:31:15Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 krenchinski_fh_me_botfca.pdf: 4468078 bytes, checksum: 834889e17086c0871a6f34bdef5de98a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-03T11:31:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 krenchinski_fh_me_botfca.pdf: 4468078 bytes, checksum: 834889e17086c0871a6f34bdef5de98a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-07-31 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O gene fosfinotricina acetyltransferase (pat) produz a enzima PAT, que por n-acetilação é capaz de metabolizar o glufosinate, transformando-o em n-acetyl-L-glufosinate (NAG). Assim, plantas transgênicas contendo esse gene resistem às aplicações desse herbicida. No milho, esse gene foi inserido como marcador de seleção e mais estudos precisam ser realizados a fim de validar o uso dessa tecnologia. Nesse contexto, os objetivos do presente trabalho foram avaliar se a expressão do gene pat é proporcional ao nível de resistência de tecnologias de milho à aplicação de glufosinate e avaliar a seletividade de herbicidas em associação ao glufosinate em milho com o gene pat. Durante o primeiro trabalho, foram utilizados híbridos de milho com as tecnologias Herculex®; Agrisure TL®; Herculex Yieldgard®; Leptra®; Viptera 3®; Power Core® com o gene pat e VT PRO® sem o gene pat. Para isso, um experimento foi realizado para avaliar a expressão relativa do gene pat nos híbridos de milho, por meio de PCR em tempo real. Em outro estudo, foram aplicadas doses de glufosinate (0, 500, 1000, 2000 e 4000 g i.a ha-1) sobre os híbridos de milho, no qual foram avaliados os teores de glufosinate e NAG, assim como acúmulo de amônia, taxa de transporte de elétrons (ETR), injúria visual e acúmulo de biomassa. Em campo, foi realizada a aplicação de 500 g i.a ha-1 de glufosinate durante o estádio V4 do milho, e foi avaliado o rendimento de grãos. Um segundo estudo foi realizado a campo, adotando-se a tecnologia Power Core®, e os tratamentos foram: glufosinate; glyphosate; glufosinate + glyphosate; glufosinate + nicosulfuron; glufosinate + atrazine; glufosinate + tembotrione; glufosinate + mesotrione; glufosinate + carfentrazone ethyl; glufosinate + bentazon; glufosinate + 2,4-D; testemunha sem capina e testemunha capinada. As avaliações realizadas foram: injúria visual, ETR, quantificação de amônia, altura, rendimento de grãos, além de nota de controle visual de plantas daninhas. As tecnologias VT PRO®, Herculex®, Agrisure TL® e Viptera 3® apresentaram menor expressão do gene pat, e consequentemente menor teor de NAG, maiores teores de glufosinate e amônia, maior injúria visual, assim como maior redução em ETR e acúmulo de biomassa. O rendimento de grãos não foi afetado negativamente pela aplicação de 500 g i.a ha-1 em nenhum dos híbridos testados. Conclui-se que a expressão do gene pat é proporcional ao nível de resistência de cada tecnologia nos híbridos de milho. A adoção da aplicação de glufosinate em associação a outros herbicidas não proporcionou redução de produtividade no milho. / The phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (pat) gene produces the enzyme PAT, which by n-acetylation is able to metabolize the glufosinate, transforming it into n-acetyl-L-glufosinate (NAG). So transgenic plants containing this gene resist the applications of this herbicide. In corn, this gene was inserted as a selection marker and further studies are needed to be performed to validate this technology use. In this context, the objectives of the present work were to evaluate if the expression of the pat gene is proportional to the resistance level of maize technologies submitted to the application of glufosinate and also to evaluate the selectivity of some others herbicides in association with glufosinate in maize which presents the pat gene. For the first work, the technologies used were: Herculex®; Agrisure TL®; Herculex Yieldgard®; Leptra®; Viptera 3®; Power Core® with the pat gene and VT PRO® without the pat gene. For this, an experiment was carried out to evaluate the relative expression of the pat gene in the technologies by RT- PCR. In another study, glufosinate (0, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 g a.i ha-1) doses were applied to the technologies, in which the glufosinate and NGA contents, ammonia accumulation, electron transportation rate (ETR), visual injury and biomass accumulation were evaluated. In the field, the spraying of 500 g a.i ha-1 of glufosinate in the V4 stage of maize was carried out in the technologies and grain yield was measured. For the second study the Power Core® technology was adopted, and the experiment was carried out in the field. The treatments were: glufosinate; glyphosate; glufosinate + glyphosate; glufosinate + nicosulfuron; glufosinate + atrazine; glufosinate + tembotrione; glufosinate + mesotrione; glufosinate + carfentrazone ethyl; glufosinate + bentazon; glufosinate + 2,4-D; no-weeding control and weeding control. Evaluations of visual injury, ETR, ammonia quantification, plant height and yield were carried out, as well as weed control. The VT PRO®, Herculex®, Agrisure TL® and Viptera 3® technologies showed lower pat gene expression, and consequently lower NAG content, as well as higher glufosinate content, ammonia accumulation, visual injury, reduced ETR and lower biomass accumulation. The yield was not affected by the application of 500 g a.i ha-1. We conclude that the pat gene expression is proportional to the resistance level of each technology.The glufosinate use in combination with other herbicides did not provide a reduction in corn yield.

The gene gdhA from Escherichia coli, that encodes a NADPH-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), directs a novel pathway in transgenic plants that potentially allows an increase in ammonium assimilation. Glufosinate leads to plant death by the irreversible inhibition of glutamate synthetase (GS) leading to a disruption of subsequent GS-related processes resulting in elevated ammonium and disruption of photorespiration. Therefore, it was speculated that the gdhA-transformed plants may exhibit a novel mechanism of resistance to glufosinate by altered activity of the GDH pathway and subsequently related processes. Studies were conducted in the greenhouse to evaluate 1) whole plant tolerance to glufosinate, 2) changes in absorption, translocation and metabolism of glufosinate, and 3) metabolic fingerprint changes in response to glufosinate treatment in tobacco plants containing the gdhA gene. Whole plant tolerance experiments showed that tobacco transformed with the gdhA gene expressed up to six fold increased resistance (GR50) to glufosinate compared with the non-gdhA control line. GDH enzyme activity among gdhA-transformed tobacco lines was highly correlated (r2 = 0.9903) with the amount of herbicide resistance. Thus, use of the E. coli gdhA gene in plant transformations can provide an additional mechanism for resistance to glufosinate. Foliar absorption and translocation of 14C from glufosinate was not altered to any large extent in gdhA-transformed plants which suggests these factors cannot fully explain the mechanism for whole-plant resistance to glufosinate. However, the metabolic fingerprint resulting from glufosinate treatment was significantly altered in gdhA tobacco. It was also shown that metabolic perturbation induced by glufosinate was lower in the high GDH activity tobacco line, +gdhA 9, than in the non-gdhA control tobacco line as evidenced by the reduced number of altered peaks recorded in leaves of these two tobacco lines. Thus, gdhA-transformed tobacco plants with low and high expression of GDH activity, exhibited greater overall stability of metabolism following the application of glufosinate, than recorded in non-gdhA control plants. This greater metabolic stability during GS inhibition was likely due to the amelioration of amino acid production through the increased activity of GDH. Therefore, the hypothesized mechanism of increased resistance to glufosinate in gdhA-transformed tobacco lines is by maintenance of amino acid production and maintenance of photorespiratory activity.

Narrow row corn production has gained interest in the Mid-South region over the last several years. This narrow row spacing interest has been inspired by increase of soybean grain yield from narrow rows. Therefore, production practices were evaluated for proper management of narrow row corn production. Additionally, the management of glyphosate- and potentially auxin-resistant weeds place pressure on other POST chemistries. Therefore, optimizing glufosinate applications are essential for control of Palmer amaranth. The objectives of this research were four-fold: 1) evaluate the phenotypic and grain yield responses of narrow row corn production under irrigated conditions, 2) test corn hybrids for their response to increased plant population in a narrow row configuration in rainfed environments, 3) assess sidedress nitrogen fertilizer practices in narrow row corn production systems, and 4) further investigate glufosinate management for POST control of Palmer amaranth. The results of this research suggest few phenotypic changes by utilizing narrow rows in corn, but most importantly, a 0.7 Mg ha-1 increase in grain yield across all plant populations. Agronomic optimum plant populations for both irrigated and non-irrigated environments ranged from 101-120 thousand plants ha-1 with hybrids varying in their response to increased plant population. Additionally, sidedress nitrogen application methods of knife-in UAN vs. broadcasting treated urea responded similarly with respect to grain yield. Agronomic and economic optimum nitrogen rate would vary significantly by site. Regarding glufosinate management, smaller droplet sizes provided the greatest control of Palmer amaranth. In conclusion, these data suggest that narrow row corn production is a viable strategy to increase corn grain yield and seeding rates should be adjusted dependent on the corn hybrid of choice. Also, controlling Palmer amaranth in Dundee, MS with glufosinate was best utilizing smaller droplet sizes.

Le glufosinate d’ammonium (GLA) est un herbicide largement utilisé dans l'agriculture. Comme cela est le cas pour la plupart des pesticides, ses effets neurotoxiques et développementaux n'ont été que partiellement étudiés. L'exposition précoce des pesticides peut affaiblir la structure de base du développement du cerveau et provoquer des changements permanents conduisant un large éventail d'effets à long terme sur la santé et/ou sur le comportement. Mes travaux de thèse ont permis de montrer que l’exposition périnatale à de faibles doses de GLA induisait des perturbations de la neurogenèse et de la migration des neuroblastes au niveau de la zone sous ventriculaire vers les bulbes olfactifs. De plus l’analyse transcriptomique cérébrale montre une modification significative de l’expression de nombreux gènes responsables de la dynamique du cytosquelette impliqué dans la régulation de la migration des neuroblastes. Etant un analogue structural du glutamate, le GLA pourrait agir sur le cytosquelette via la modification de la polyglutamylation de la tubuline. Cette hypothèse expliquerait les altérations cellulaires observées. Par ailleurs, avons mis en évidence dans cette étude, des troubles du comportement des souris exposées semblables à ceux observables chez les modèles murins des « troubles du spectre autistique » (ASD-like). / Glufosinate ammonium (GLA) is one of the most widely used herbicides in agriculture. As for almost all pesticides, potential adverse effects of GLA have not been investigated in the brain developmental neurotoxicity perspective. Indeed, early pesticides exposure may weaken the developing brain and cause permanent brain alteration which could lead to a wide range of the lifelong effects on health and/or behavior. As an illustration, we showed that perinatal exposure to low doses of GLA induced behavioral defects in mice adulthood, characterized by many similarities with Autism Spectrum Disorders phenotype. My thesis deals with the molecular aspect of this perinatal GLA exposure. I demonstrated that GLA induced disturbances of proliferation and neuroblast migration from the subventricular zone to the olfactory bulbs. These defects were associated with significant change in the expression of many genes involved in neuroblast migration and cytoskeleton regulation as observed by brain transcriptome analysis. I showed that GLA act on the cytoskeleton through modification of polyglutamylation of tubulin which lead to cell division/migration disturbances and cell differentiation defect. My work thus provides a new molecular link between pre- and post-natal exposure to the herbicide GLA and the onset of ASD like phenotype later in life. It also raises the fundamental concerns about the ability of current safety testing to assess risks of pesticide exposure during critical developmental periods.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-02-22Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:07:55Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_gsf_me_botfca.pdf: 3983066 bytes, checksum: 0ecc95aedf49bb3a0b687a39cac24ced (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a influência de diferentes intervalos de chuva na eficiência de herbicidas aplicados em pós-emergência em quatro espécies de plantas daninhas: Ipomoea grandifolia, Senna obtusifolia, Brachiaria decumbens e Brachiaria plantaginea. O experimento foi conduzido em condições de casa-de-vegetação com uma planta por vaso, com capacidade de 2,5 L. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições, disposto em um esquema fatorial 7x8 (sete tratamentos químicos e oito intervalos de chuva) para as espécies dicotiledôneas e 6x8 (seis tratamentos herbicidas e oito intervalos de chuva) para as monocotiledôneas. Os tratamentos testados foram: glyphosate em cinco formulações comerciais (Roundup Original, Roundup WG, Roundup Transorb, Roundup Transorb R e Roundup Ultra) a 1.080 g e.a. ha-1, amonio-glufosinate a 400 g i.a. ha-1 e, apenas para as espécies dicotiledôneas utilizou-se o tratamento com 2,4-D a 1.000 g e.a. ha-1. A simulação de chuva de 20 mm foi realizada em oito intervalos de tempo após a aplicação dos herbicidas (15‟, 30‟, 1h, 2h, 4h, 6h, 8h e sem chuva). Foram realizadas avaliações visuais de controle das plantas aos 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 e 35 dias após a aplicação (DAA) para I. grandifolia,aos 3, 7, 14, 21 e 28 DAA para S. obtusifolia, aos 3, 7, 14 e 21 DAA para B. decumbens e aos 3, 7 e 14 DAA para B. plantaginea. Ao final do período de avaliação de cada espécie determinou-se a massa seca das plantas. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância pelo Teste “F” e as médias dos tratamentos comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Para plantas de I. grandifolia a ocorrência de chuvas após 15 minutos da aplicação do herbicida 2,4-D não afetou sua eficiência de controle, já os herbicidas amonio-glufosinate e glyphosate, em todas suas... / The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different intervals of rain in the efficiency of herbicides applied post-emergence in four weed species: Ipomoea grandifolia, Senna obtusifolia, Brachiaria decumbens and Brachiaria plantaginea. The experiment was conducted in conditions of green-house with one plant per pot, with a capacity of 2.5 L. The experiment was a completely randomized design with four replications, arranged in a 7x8 factorial arrangement (seven chemical treatments and eight intervals of rain) for dicotyledons and 6x8 (six and eight herbicide treatments rain intervals) for monocotyledons. The treatments were: glyphosate in five formulations (Roundup Original, Roundup WG, Transorb Roundup, Roundup and Roundup Ultra Transorb R) to 1080 g ae ha-1 ammonium-glufosinate at 400 g ai ha-1, and only for dicot species, we used treatment with 2,4-D and 1,000 g ha-1. The simulated rainfall of 20 mm was accomplished in eight intervals of time after herbicide application (15', 30', 1h, 2h, 4h, 6h, 8h and no rain). Visual evaluations of weed control at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days after application (DAA) for I. grandifolia, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 DAA for S. obtusifolia, 3, 7, 14 and 21 DAA for B. decumbens and at 3, 7 and 14 DAA for B. plantaginea. At the end of the trial period of each species determined the dry mass of plants. The results were subjected to analysis of variance test by F and the means were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. For plants I. grandifolia to rainfall after 15 minutes of application of 2,4-D did not affect the efficiency of control because the herbicides glufosinate and glyphosate-ammonium, in all its formulations tested showed reduced efficiency of control when the occurrence of rainfall up to 8 hours after herbicide application and, with the exception of Roundup Original, all herbicides provided greater than 50% reductions in dry mass of ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Studies were conducted in 2004, 2005, and 2006 in south Texas to evaluate fall, winter, and spring weed control for commercial rice production, study tillage intensity and herbicide rate interactions for rice production, and determine the tolerance of red rice ecotypes from Texas rice fields using selected herbicides at varying rates. A single application of any herbicide or combination of herbicides was not adequate for weed control throughout the fall, winter, and spring. Fall applications of clomazone plus flumioxazin provided consistent weed control. Addition of flumioxazin to glyphosate provided excellent winter annual grass control with winter application. A residual herbicide, coupled with the proper contact herbicide is the key to extending control. In 2006, all tillage by herbicide treatments in all studies provided ≥ 90% control of all weed species. The conventional tillage treatment with low herbicide input provided the highest rice grain yield in 2005 and 2006, though they were not significantly different from the spring stale seedbed program with medium or high herbicide input in 2006. In 2006, fall stale seedbed treatments were among the lowest in yield. A stale seedbed program may be useful, but with substantial weed pressure, increasing the intensity of herbicide applications is necessary to overcome the absence of tillage. All rice ecotypes were adequately controlled by glyphosate and only one ecotype was found to be tolerant to 2x rates of both imazethapyr and imazamox. All ecotypes were adequately controlled by 2x rates of more than two of the four herbicides which included imazethapy, imazamox, glufosinate, and glyphosate. Ecotypes from the 3.2 group, genetically similar to the ecotype TX4, appear to be the most likely to exhibit tolerance to a given herbicide. Tolerance to glufosinate was found in 70% of the group 3.2 ecotypes. Sixty percent of ecotypes from group 3.1, genetically similar to Oryza rufipogon were not adequately controlled by glufosinate.

Studies were conducted in 2004, 2005, and 2006 in south Texas to evaluate fall, winter, and spring weed control for commercial rice production, study tillage intensity and herbicide rate interactions for rice production, and determine the tolerance of red rice ecotypes from Texas rice fields using selected herbicides at varying rates. A single application of any herbicide or combination of herbicides was not adequate for weed control throughout the fall, winter, and spring. Fall applications of clomazone plus flumioxazin provided consistent weed control. Addition of flumioxazin to glyphosate provided excellent winter annual grass control with winter application. A residual herbicide, coupled with the proper contact herbicide is the key to extending control. In 2006, all tillage by herbicide treatments in all studies provided ≥ 90% control of all weed species. The conventional tillage treatment with low herbicide input provided the highest rice grain yield in 2005 and 2006, though they were not significantly different from the spring stale seedbed program with medium or high herbicide input in 2006. In 2006, fall stale seedbed treatments were among the lowest in yield. A stale seedbed program may be useful, but with substantial weed pressure, increasing the intensity of herbicide applications is necessary to overcome the absence of tillage. All rice ecotypes were adequately controlled by glyphosate and only one ecotype was found to be tolerant to 2x rates of both imazethapyr and imazamox. All ecotypes were adequately controlled by 2x rates of more than two of the four herbicides which included imazethapy, imazamox, glufosinate, and glyphosate. Ecotypes from the 3.2 group, genetically similar to the ecotype TX4, appear to be the most likely to exhibit tolerance to a given herbicide. Tolerance to glufosinate was found in 70% of the group 3.2 ecotypes. Sixty percent of ecotypes from group 3.1, genetically similar to Oryza rufipogon were not adequately controlled by glufosinate.

The indeterminate nature of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik), in conjunction with adverse field conditions, can lead to varying degrees of maturity among plants at harvest. This variable maturity may have a negative influence on lentil production and can delay harvest. Desiccants are currently used to improve lentil crop dry-down. However, applying desiccants too early may result in reduced crop yield and quality, and also leave unacceptable herbicide residues in lentil seeds. In addition, only four herbicides (glyphosate, diquat, saflufenacil, and glufosinate) are registered as desiccants for lentil desiccation in Canada, which limits options for growers. Therefore, the objectives of this thesis were i) to determine the importance of desiccant application timing in affecting crop yield and quality, as well as herbicide residues and ii) to determine whether additional desiccants applied alone or tank-mixed with glyphosate provide better crop desiccation. Field trials were conducted at Saskatoon and Scott, Saskatchewan, from 2012 to 2014. In the application timing trial, glyphosate or saflufenacil alone, or glyphosate+saflufenacil generally decreased seed yield, thousand seed weight, and crop dry-down, and increased herbicide residue levels at earlier application timings. For example, when applied at 60% seed moisture, saflufenacil reduced yield and thousand seed weight by 22% and 10%, respectively, and resulted in glyphosate and saflufenacil residues greater than 2.0 and 0.03 ppm, respectively. Although there were no reductions in yield and thousand seed weight when desiccants were applied at 50% or 40% seed moisture, glyphosate residue exceeded 2.0 ppm. Application of desiccants at 20 or 30% seed moisture content had no effect on yield, thousand seed weight, or herbicide residues. These results indicate that desiccant application timing is critical, and should not be made before 30% seed moisture. In a second study, glufosinate and diquat tank mixed with glyphosate were the most consistent desiccants and provided optimal crop dry-down without reducing yield and thousand seed weight, and effectively reduced glyphosate residue. The other herbicides tested (pyraflufen-ethyl and flumioxazin) were found to be poor options for growers as they had sub-optimal crop desiccation and did not affect glyphosate residue.