BROAD BEAN AND LENTIL SEED TREATMENTS WITH IMIDAZOLINONES FOR THE CONTROL OF BROOMRAPE (OROBANCHE CRENATA)

Studies were conducted from 1993 to 1995 in Southern Spain to determin e the feasibility of controlling broomrape (Orobanche crenata Forsk.) in broad bean (Vicia faba L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris L.) by treati ng seeds with imazethapyr and imazapyr. In the broad bean, soaking for 5 min in 0.01-0.1% herbicide solutions or coating at 20-40 g ha(-1) ( seed sowing rate 160 kg ha(-1)) with imazethapyr (Pursuit-10) did not affect seed germination and crop growth, and resulted in 60-80% broomr ape control. Furthermore, broad bean seeds treated with imazethapyr fo llowed by an additional late post-emergence application of imazapyr (A rsenal-25) at 5 g ha(-1) resulted in excellent broomrape control (> 95 %). Similarly, lentil seed treatments with imazapyr by coating seeds a t rates equivalent to 5-10 g ha(-1) or by soaking for 5 min in 0.25% s olutions did not affect germination or crop growth, and controlled 85- 95% of broomrape. As a result, with broomrape-efficient herbicide trea tments, crop biomass/seed yield increased as compared to broomrape-inf ested, non-treated controls. Herbicide seed treatments with imazapyr i n broad bean and with imazethapyr in lentil were less well tolerated a nd were less effective in controlling broomrape than treatments with i mazethapyr and imazapyr, respectively.