INFLUENCE OF GROWTH STAGE ON RICE (ORYZA-SATIVA) TOLERANCE TO TRICLOPYR

Field studies were conducted from 1985 to 1989 on a Sharkey clay to examine injury to a semi-dwarf rice cultivar, 'Lemont', from triclopyr or triclopyr plus propanil. Triclopyr applied in the booting stage reduced yield two of three years, with the observed yield reduction possibly caused by epinasty of the rice flag leaf. Triclopyr application to three- to four-leaf rice caused hyponasty. Triclopyr did not reduce plant height, seed weight, germination, or total milling yield. Triclopyr plus propanil caused more leaf burn that triclopyr alone, but yields were not reduced compared with the untreated control. This research indicated that triclopyr and triclopyr plus propanil can be used in rice production with the semi-dwarf cultivar, Lemont, with the potential to minimize drift to non-target crops due to the greater flexibility in application timing compared with 2,4-D application.