Sweet corn (Zea mays) cultivar sensitivity to mesotrione

Field studies were conducted in 1999 and 2000 at Simcoe, Ridgetown, and Exeter, Ontario, to evaluate the tolerance of nine sweet corn cultivars to mesotrione, applied preemergence (PRE) at 140 and 280 g ai/ha and postemergence (POST) at 100 and 200 g ai/ha. Urea ammonium nitrate fertilizer (28%) at 2.5% (v/v) and crop oil concentrate at 1% (v/v) were added to POST applications of mesotrione only. All cultivars were tolerant to mesotrione applied PRE. There was no injury, or reductions in plant height or yield with PRE applications of mesotrione at any location in either year. POST applications of mesotrione, particularly at 200 g/ha, caused significant phytotoxicity to 'Calico Belle' and 'Del Monte 2038'. Other cultivars also showed phytotoxic symptoms; however, this injury was much reduced and did not occur at all locations each year. Sweet corn injury by mesotrione increased as rate increased. Del Monte 2038 also had significantly reduced plant height and yields. Other cultivars had no plant height or yield reductions because of POST applications of mesotrione.