Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate) caused an aggregation of the epicuticular wax layer of corn (Zea mays L.). R-25788 (2,2-dichloro-N,N-diallylacetamide) prevented this aggregation when applied in combination with EPTC. Neither EPTC, metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide], nor R-25788 changed the weight of chloroform extractable epicuticular wax on corn leaves. EPTC apparently does not block lipid synthesis in corn as it does in other plant species. Thus R-25788 does not protect corn from EPTC or metolachlor by overcoming such a block. EPTC did affect wax arrangement on the leaf surface and caused an increase in the cuticular transpiration of corn and predisposed corn to injury from subsequent postemergence applications of paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium ion). R-25788 protected corn against these deleterious effect.

Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted during 1984 through 1986 to examine the efficacy of the seed protectants CGA-92194 {α-[(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl-methyl)imino]benzacetonitrile} and flurazole [2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-5-thiazolecarboxylic acid] for protecting grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.] from alachlor [2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl) acetamide], metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide], and propachlor [2-chloro-N-(1-methylethyl)-N-phenylacetamide] injury. In the field, CGA-92194 and flurazole protected sorghum from injury, stand reduction, and yield loss due to alachlor and metolachlor. In general, sorghum was protected with either antidote, and protected response to alachlor or metolachlor was similar to sorghum subjected to propachlor. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to examine the response of bronze and yellow pericarp color to seed protectants, six sorghum hybrids to these antidotes, and the effects of cool soil temperature on the early seedling vigor of sorghum protected with the antidotes. The response of sorghum with yellow and bronze pericarp color was similar when compared across antidotes. However, there were differences among the sorghum hybrids when compared across protectants. The potential of CGA-92194 and flurazole to protect against alachlor injury was reduced when sorghum was grown in cool soil.

Preplant-incorporated applications of commercial formulations of EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate) and butylate (S-ethyl diisobutylthiocarbamate) plus the herbicide antidote R-25788 (N,N-diallyl-2,2-dichloroacetamide) were evaluated for their interactions with preemergence applications of tebuthiuron {N-[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]-N,N′-dimethylurea} in corn (Zea mays L., ‘Pioneer 3780’) under greenhouse conditions. The thiocarbamate herbicides plus the antidote were used at 1.1, 2.2, 3.4, and 4.5 kg/ha, and they were evaluated against 0.3, 0.6, and 1.1 kg/ha of tebuthiuron. Shoot dry weight and shoot height of corn seedlings were measured at 24 days after treatment. Growth responses of corn to combination treatments of these herbicides were significantly reduced. Statistical analysis of the data showed that tebuthiuron interacted synergistically with both EPTC and butylate in the presence of the herbicide-antidote R-25788.

Field experiments were conducted in 1986 and 1987 to evaluate the potential of growth regulators mepiquat chloride and chlormequat chloride as seed treatments to protect cotton from fluometuron injury. Fluometuron at two and three times the recommended use rate reduced cotton stand and height on Taloka and Convent silt loam soils both years. Cotton grown on a Sharkey silty clay soil was not injured by fluometuron. Mepiquat chloride and chlormequat chloride increased cotton stands on a Taloka silt loam soil when averaged over rates and years. In general, fluometuron injury to cotton was not reduced by treating seed with 1000 ppmw concentrations of chlormequat chloride or mepiquat chloride. Chlormequat chloride reduced chlorosis and necrosis of cotton treated with fluometuron, but neither growth regulator eliminated cotton injury or yield reduction caused by fluometuron at two or three times the recommended rates.

In greenhouse studies, the potential interactive effects of metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] treatments combined with the air pollutant ozone (O3) or the antioxidants, piperonyl butoxide {α-[2-butoxyethyl) ethoxy]-4,5-dimethylenedioxy-2-propyltoluene} and n-propyl gallate, on the growth of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ‘Funk G522DR’] seedlings that were protected or unprotected with the antidote, CGA-43089 [α-(cyanomethoximino)-benzacetonitrile], were examined. Metolachlor was applied preplant incorporated at rates of 2.2, 3.9, and 5.6 kg/ha, and it was evaluated against fumigation with O3 at 0.2 and 0.3 ppmv or against 4.9, 6.7, and 9.0 kg/ha of each antioxidant applied preplant incorporated. In combination treatments, shoot dry weight at 30 days after planting was reduced more than expected by metolachlor in the presence of the protectant CGA-43089 and ozone or some rates of the two antioxidants, suggesting synergism. In the absence of the protectant, CGA-43089, growth responses of sorghum to combination treatments of metolachlor with ozone or propyl gallate suggested an additive effect, although some treatments of metolachlor combined with piperonyl butoxide interacted synergistically.

Benoxacor, CGA-185072, and MON-13900 were evaluated in laboratory studies as safeners to reduce injury caused by primisulfuron when corn has been previously treated with terbufos. Without safeners, shoot length was reduced 30% when primisulfuron (78 gm ha-1) followed terbufos (2.6 kg ha-1) applications. Stunting was significantly reduced by preemergence applications of CGA-185072 and MON-13900 at 200 g ai ha-1; however, shoot length was still reduced by 21 and 12%, respectively. Benoxacor did not reduce primisulfuron injury in corn previously treated with terbufos. Safening by CGA-185072 and MON-13900 was not due to reduced primisulfuron uptake or altered translocation. MON-13900 was further evaluated for its effects on primisulfuron metabolism. MON-13900 increased primisulfuron metabolism in terbufos-treated shoots by more than 50%. This increase in metabolism appears to be the mechanism of safening by MON-13900.

Greenhouse studies were initiated to determine the efficacy of four herbicide antidotes as protectants of corn (Zea mays L., ‘DeKalb XL72AA’ and ‘DeKalb XL67′) against injury from preemergence or early postemergence applications of the herbicides chlorsulfuron {2-chloro-N-[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino] carbonyl] benzenesulfonamide}, fluazifop-butyl {butyl-2-[4-[5-(trifluoromethyl-2-pyridinyl)oxy] phenoxy] propanoate}, or BAS 9052 OH {2-[1-(ethoxyimino)-butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)-propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexene-1-one}. NA (1,8-naphthalic anhydride) was the most effective of the four antidotes in protecting corn against injury from preemergence applications of chlorsulfuron. CGA-43089 [α-(cyanomethoxy)-imino-benzeneacetonitrile] and CGA-92194 [α-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl-methoxy)-imino-benzeneacetonitrile] partially protected corn from chlorsulfuron injury, whereas R-25788 (N,N-diallyl-2,2-dichloroacetamide] was the least effective. R-25788 offered partial to good protection to corn against injury from preemergence applications of fluazifop-butyl and BAS 9052 OH. NA, or CGA-43089, and CGA-92194 partially protected corn from fluazifop-butyl injury but their efficacy against BAS 9052 OH injury to corn was limited. In general, all four antidotes offered better protection to the thiocarbamate-tolerant ‘XL72AA’ hybrid than to the thiocarbamate-susceptible ‘XL67’ hybrid. With the exception of NA, which partially protected corn from postemergence-applied chlorsulfuron, none of the four herbicide antidotes was effective in protecting corn against injury from postemergence applications of any of the three herbicides.