| Abstract: | The herbicidal activity of a new compound (±)-(EZ}-2-1-allyloxy-imino)propyr]-3-hydroxy-6-(4-cyanophenyl)cyclohex-2-ene-1-one] (I) , selective to broad-leaf plants, and partially selective in some cereal crops was enhanced by an emulsifiable paraffinic oil (HVI 60E). In order to determine the amount of HVI 60E to be applied with an emulsifiable concentrate of I (IE) a factorial herbicidal assay involving six concentrations of I and five concentrations of HVI 60E (both sets including zero concentration) was conducted to obtain response surfaces of herbicidal activity. The total selectivity of IE in broad-leaf species remained for all HVI 60E concentrations. The activity against grass weeds, except Poa annua L., increased markedly with increasing HVI 60E concentration and enhancement of performance of IE by HVI 60E in broad-leaf crops could be pursued without fear of crop phytotoxicity. However, the increases in activity against grass weeds were accompanied by increases in phytotoxicity against cereal crops. The response surfaces of Echinochloa crus-galli(L.) Beauv. and Zea mays L. were coincident and this result terminated further testing in this outlet. However, the response surfaces of Avena fatua L. and Triticum aestivum L. were reasonably well separated. Further tests in this outlet and in broad-leaf crops are planned around optimum cost-performance ratios derived from combinations with cost-response surfaces. The results of a further lest showed that both components (oil and emulsifier) of HVI 60E were approximately equivalent in adjuvant enhancement activity and so, on cost grounds, a crop oil (low emulsifier content) would be preferred over a crop oil concentrate (high emulsifier content). |
