© Benaki Phytopathological Institute
Marinan-Arroyuelo
et al.
64
weeding at 23, 39 and 54 days after trans-
planting (DAT). Pendimethalin and s-me-
tolachlor were used both alone or combined
to a post-transplant (23 DAT) application of
metribuzin at the rate of 280 g/ha and two
hand weedings (39 and 54 DAT). A post-
transplant application of metribuzin is com-
monly used in Greece as a supplemental
weed control method in processing toma-
toes.
The tomato fruits were harvested on Au-
gust 20 (104 DAT) from the central two rows
of each plot and the yield data recorded.
Weeds present in untreated controls (ex-
pressed as plants/m
2
, 23 DAT) were:
Portu-
laca oleracea
(175),
Heliotropium europaeum
(85),
Solanumnigrum
(31),
Amaranthus lividus
(31),
Cyperus esculentus
(1
)
.
The onion trials
The winter-seeded onion trial present-
ed in detail here was conducted in 2011 in
the province of Bologna
(region of Emilia
Romagna, Italy), an area where onion is the
main cultivation. Onion seeds of the variety
Cometa were sown on February 2 and seed-
ling emergencewas completed onMarch 30.
Experimental plots of 10x12 m were used.
The basi
c
treatments in this trial were
the untreated control, a pendimethal-
in pre-emergence treatment, an oxyfluor-
fen post-emergence treatment and a com-
bined application of the two herbicides (the
common practice in the area). Pendimeth-
alin was applied at the rate of 910 g/ha 37
days after sowing (before emergence) of the
onions. Oxyfluorfen was applied at the rate
of 360 g/ha when onion seedlings reached
the 3-leaf stage, 22 days after emergence
(DAE). Supplemental weed control for all ba-
sic treatments in this trial was made with a
hand weeding on the 49 and the 79 DAE.
Onion dry bulbs were harvested on July
19 (109 DAE) from the central 4x1.4 m area
of each plot, the bulbs were graded to three
classes according to size (<50 mm being not
marketable, 50-80 mm being marketable,
>80 mm regarded as not marketable) and
the marketable yield per plot recorded.
Weed species present in untreated con-
trols (expressed as mean % contribution of
each species in the weed coverage about
60 DAE) were:
Polygonum convolvulus
(87%),
Anagallis foemina
(4%),
Anagallis arvensis
(4%),
Polygonum persicaria
(1,3%),
Stellaria
media
(1%),
Amaranthus retroflexus
(1,7%),
Solanum nigrum
(1%
)
.
The cotton trial
The cotton trial presented in detail here
was conducted in Greece during the 2011
growing period. Cotton seed of the variety
Celia was sown on April 20 in a field located
at Elefterio, a typical cotton growing area in
Central Greece (Larissa). Seedling emergence
was completed on May 6. Experimental plots
of 3.84x10 m (4 crop rows) were used.
Basic
treatments in this trial included
a pre-emergence pendimethalin applica-
tion at the two recommended rates (1638
or 1956.5 g/ha ) and the combination pendi-
methalin (1638 g/ha) plus fluometuron (1250
g/ha), as commonly used in Greece. Pendi-
methalin was applied four days before sow-
ing and mechanically incorporated into the
soil. Fluometuron was applied on the same
day after sowing (no incorporation). The ex-
perimental area was irrigated two days af-
ter sowing to activate the soil applied herbi-
cides and to favor cotton seed germination.
All basic treatments were used alone or sup-
plemented with hand weeding at 30, 44 and
60 days after cotton sowing (DAS).
Cotton was harvested on September 26
from the central two rows of each plot and
the yield (as seed cotton) recorded.
Main weed species present in the un-
treated controls (plants/m
2
, 30 DAS) were:
Solanum nigrum
53,
Amaranthus hybridus
11.3,
Chenopodium album
8.
The broccoli trials
Two trials are presented that were
conducted with transplanted broccoli in
Greece. The first was with a crop (cv. Par-
thenon) transplanted in December 9 2010
and harvested on April 13, 2011 in a field lo-
cated in the area of Imathia (W. Macedonia,
N. Greece). The second was with a crop (cv.
Modor 8228) transplanted on March 14, 2011
