Chlorsulfuron influence on garden pea reproduction

The influence of chlorsulfuron on the reproduction of green pea ( Pisum sativum ) was examined by exposing plants at 3 different stages of development to 3 different exposure levels (46, 92, and 180 mg ha⁻¹; corresponding to 2 × 10⁻³, 4 × 10⁻³, and 8 × 10⁻³ of the recommended field application rates for small grain crops). Reproduction was only influenced by the two higher rates. The most susceptible stage of development was when plants possessed 6 expanded leaves and one visible flower bud. At that stage, an application rate of 180 mg ha⁻¹ (0.8% of the recommended field rate) reduced the seed yield of treated plants to 1% of that of the control plants without severely altering the height or appearance of mature plants. When correspondingly low application rates of atrazine. glyphosate, and 2.4-D were administered at this same developmental stage there were no effects on either growth or reproduction. Thus, chlorsulfuron had an influence on plant reproduction that was not produced by other herbicides administered at low levels.