Differential Sensitivity of Maize Hybrids to Nicosulfuron
Natalia da Cunha Bevilaqua,
Renato Nunes Costa,
Bruno Flaibam Giovanelli,
Vinicius Gabriel Caneppele Pereira,
Fábio Henrique Krenchinski,
Caio Antonio Carbonari,
Edivaldo Domingues Velini
Affiliations
Natalia da Cunha Bevilaqua
Department of Crop Protection, College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Renato Nunes Costa
Department of Crop Science, College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Bruno Flaibam Giovanelli
Department of Crop Science, College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Vinicius Gabriel Caneppele Pereira
Department of Crop Science, College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Fábio Henrique Krenchinski
Department of Crop Science, College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Caio Antonio Carbonari
Department of Crop Protection, College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Edivaldo Domingues Velini
Department of Crop Protection, College of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” UNESP), Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Maize hybrids exhibit varying levels of tolerance to the herbicide nicosulfuron, influenced by the environment, plant developmental stage, and herbicide rate. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity of maize hybrids to nicosulfuron through biochemical markers. Eight hybrids were treated with 120 g ha−1 of nicosulfuron at the V2 and V6 growth stages in a greenhouse experiment. The plants were collected at one day after the application of the herbicide to determine the contents of nicosulfuron, aminobutyric and quinic acids and valine, leucine, and isoleucine amino acids. Plant height and phytotoxicity were evaluated at 7, 14, 21, and 28 DAA. The plants were collected at 28 DAA to determine the shoot dry weight. The results indicated that sensitivity to nicosulfuron varied among the eight hybrids studied, with the V2 stage exhibiting higher herbicide accumulation, greater height reduction, and increased phytotoxicity. Aminobutyric acid levels increased in all hybrids after herbicide application, with a stronger correlation between its accumulation and growth inhibition at the V2 stage. These findings suggest that V2 is the most suitable stage for distinguishing hybrid sensitivity to nicosulfuron.