Defoliant Effect on Melons

Abstract

Sodium chlorate exhibited the fastest developing crop phytotoxicity symptoms within 3 days after treatment (DAT). Within three days of application, significant crop injury at 40 and 80% was observed on cantaloupes for sodium chlorate applied at 1.0 and 4.0 lb AI/A, respectively. Thidiazuron/diuron (Ginstar7) caused injury that was slightly slower to develop and the crop declined severely during the next 10 days. Ginstar at 8.0 or 12.0 oz product/A initially caused 20% crop injury. Thidiazuron (Dropp7) caused the least injury on cantaloupes and injury reached unacceptable levels at 1 WAT. Dropp at 0.1 and 0.4 lb AI/A initially showed less than 10% crop injury. Dropp at the rates tested caused minimal defoliation.