Differential tolerance of fresh market sweet corn cultivars to the herbicides nicosulfuron and primisulfuron

Abstract

Field studies were conducted to determine the tolerance of 11 sweet corn (Zea mays L.) cultivars to the herbicides nicosulfuron and primisulfuron. The su cultivar 'Merit' was intolerant of nicosulfuron and primisulfuron, as indicated by significant differences from the untreated check for all measured variables. Most other su cultivars exhibited stunting, but injury was ≤19% (0% = no injury; 100% = dead) with nicosulfuron and primisulfuron in 1992. The se cultivars Alpine and Harris Moran Silverado exhibited variable stunting to nicosulfuron (25% and 23% injury, respectively) and primisulfuron (43% and 50%, respectively) in 1992. The sh2 cultivar Supersweet Jubilee was injured less by nicosulfuron (16%) than by primisulfuron (33%) in 1992. All cultivars except Merit recovered from early-season herbicide injury in 1992 and 1993. Significant differences among the se, su, and sh2 cultivars were recorded for the remaining variables (stalk height, marketable ear number and yield, ear length and diameter), but no patterns with respect to a specific sugary genetic background developed in 1992 or 1993. Nicosulfuron and primisulfuron were safely applied to the cultivars Alpine, Harris Moran Silverado, Royal Gold, Seneca Chief, Calumet, Jubilee, and Supersweet Jubilee without reductions in fresh ear yield. Chemical names used: {2-[[[[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)amino] carbonyl]amino]sulfonyl]-N,N-dimethyl-3-pyridinecarboxamide} (nicosulfuron); {methyl 2[[[[[4,6-bis(difluoromethoxy)-2-pyrimidinyl]amino]carbonyl]amino ]sulfonyl]benzonate} (primisulfuron).