Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and Eastern Black Nightshade (Solanum ptycanthum) Tolerance to Aciflurofen

Field experiments were conducted to determine the influence of growth stage on tolerance of seeded tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentumMill.) and of eastern black nightshade (Solanum ptycanthumDun. #3SOLPT) to the sodium salt of acifluorfen {5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoic acid} at low use rates. Tomatoes as young as the 2 true-leaf stage exhibited some tolerance to acifluorfen at rates of 0.14 kg ae/ha and less. Rates of 0.28 and 0.56 kg/ha caused increased phytotoxicity; however, yield was not greatly reduced. At the 8-leaf stage, foliar injury was slight and existed only at the highest rates tested; however, tomato yields were reduced. Control of black nightshade at the 2-leaf stage was acceptable at rates as low as 0.14 kg/ha. When nightshade was at the 5-leaf stage, 0.28 and 0.56 kg/ha rates provided acceptable control − 87% and 96%, respectively. Nightshade in the 10-leaf stage was not controlled effectively at rates below 0.56 kg/ha.