Response of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) cultivars to imazamethabenz and PP-604

Field experiments were conducted in the Mediterranean conditions of the Ebro Valley, Spain during 1995 to 1996 and 1996 to 1997 to determine the effects of imazamethabenz and PP-604 on selected durum wheat Triticum turgidum var. durum cultivars grown under irrigation. Herbicides were applied at their recommended rates of 600 g ai/ha for imazamethabenz and 375 g ai/ ha for PP-604 and at twice these rates. Herbicide treatment reduced the average wheat height in three of four trials. Wheat treated with imazamethabenz was almost 2 cm shorter than wheat treated with PP-604 and almost 3 cm shorter than untreated control plants. However, durum wheat yields were not significantly reduced by treatment with imazamethabenz or PP-604 in any of the four trials, and no visible plant injury was observed. These results differ from reported yield reductions under Mediterranean dryland conditions, suggesting that durum wheat can be affected by imazamethabenz and PP-604 but irrigation enhances recovery from herbicide injury.