Phytotoxic Effects of African Mahogany Seedlings to Herbicides

ABSTRACT The chemical control of weed is a common practice in silviculture. However, herbicides can potentially damage the main crop and affect its growth. The lack of information about certain species such as Khaya senegalensis make it necessary to know the phytotoxic effects of herbicides. The purpose of this research was to analyze the phytotoxic effects of five herbicides on African mahogany seedlings. The used herbicides were: saflufenacil, amicarbazone, clomazone, isoxaflutole and sulfentrazone, at doses recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture for forest species. Visual, physiological (maximum ETR, SPAD, Yield protocol and FV/FM) and morphological evaluations were performed up to 60 DAA. The symptoms started after 24 hours from the application; saflufenacil and clomazone were the ones that presented more plants with symptoms such as leaf wrinkling and small necrotic spots, but all of them had low phytotoxicity. The physiological evaluations did not present significant differences and the herbicides did not inhibit the growth or the appearance of new leaves. All tested herbicides caused no phytotoxicity to African mahogany seedlings.