BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL OF HEMP SESBANIA (SESBANIA-EXALTATA) UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS WITH COLLETOTRICHUM-TRUNCATUM FORMULATED IN AN INVERT EMULSION

In greenhouse experiments, conidia of Colletotrichum truncatum applied in an invert emulsion formulation controlled hemp sesbania 100% in th e absence of a dew treatment. In field experiments, hemp sesbania cont rol averaged 95 and 97% in 1989 and 1990, respectively, when this form ulation was applied to hemp sesbania seedlings using tractor-mounted, air-assist nozzles. This level of weed control was comparable to that achieved from the herbicide acifluorfen. These results indicate that C . truncatum has excellent potential as a mycoherbicide for controlling hemp sesbania and that this potential can be augmented by formulating the pathogen as an invert emulsion.