| dc.description.abstract | The effect of glyphosate applied directly to asparagus spears on their growth and crowns regrowth capacity was studied during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Homogeneous asparagus crowns, cultivar UC 157 F1, were planted in individual plastic bags two seasons before application. The effect of spear height (smaller and larger than 12 cm), and one or two glyphosate application as well as the effect of time between the application and spear harvest (2, 24, 48 and 72 h) were determined. The Spears were treated with a commercial formulation of glyphosate (isopropylamine salt) at 2.4 kg ai ha(-1). The experimental design was a factorial with an arrangement of complete randomized blocks with four replications. A clear deformation was observed in the sprayed spears after treatment with glyphosate, which was more evident as the time interval between application and harvest increased. Applied spears harvested within 2h after application did not show any evident deformation. The crown regrowth capacity was not affected by glyphosate application directly to spears, eventhough some did show strong damage at the apex. These results show that glyphosate application directly to spears during the harvest season will not produce damage to the asparagus plants. However, residues of glyphosate on harvested spears might be an important issue. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | |
