UCC-C4243 Dessication of Potato Vines
Chemical vine desiccation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is widely used in the USA. Diquat is the major vine desiccant but has some drawbacks such as incomplete stem desiccation allowing regrowth. A new herbicide, UCC-C4243, was evaluated as a replacement for diquat. The potato cultivar `Atlantic' was treated with UCC-C4243 (a.i.) at 0.25 to 2.5 oz/acre (17.5 to 175 g·ha-1), and leaf and stem desiccation efficiency was compared to diquat (a.i.) at 4 oz/acre (280 g·ha-1). Split applications of UCC-C4243 were compared to double applications of diquat. Subjective evaluations were made on regrowth and tuber skinning, and objective measurements on specific gravity and yield. Trials were conducted from 1991 to 1995 at Scottsbluff, NE. UCC-C4243 at 1.5 oz/acre (105 g·ha-1) and higher significantly increased leaf and stem desiccation compared to diquat. There was no difference between single and split applications of UCC-C4243. UCC-C4243 suppressed regrowth at 1 oz/acre (70 g·ha-1) and prevented it at 2.5 oz/acre at 3 weeks after treatment while diquat did not. Skin set of tubers was promoted equally by all desiccants. Specific gravity was not lowered by UCC-C4243 but was by diquat. Yields were not affected by either UCC-C4243 at 1.5 oz/acre or diquat at 4 oz/acre. UCC-C4243 was more effective than diquat as a vine desiccant without the regrowth and tuber specific gravity effects associated with diquat.