Response of several transplanted pepper cultivars to variable rates and methods of application of clomazone

Field studies were conducted to evaluate the tolerance of several pepper (C apsicum annuum L.) cultivars to the herbicide clomazone. Peppers tested inc luded the bell cultivars Yolo Wonder and Jupiter; the banana cultivar Sweet Banana; and the pungent cultivars Jalapeno and Red Chili. Treatments were clomazone at 0.56 or 1.12 kg.ha(-1) a.i. applied either preplant incorporat ed (PPI), pretransplant (PRE-T), or posttransplant (POS-T) on the day of tr ansplanting, plus a nontreated control. Clomazone at 1.12 kg.ha(-1) a.i, PP I and PRE-T significantly injured (bleaching or chlorosis of foliage) 'Swee t Banana' (40% and 20%,respectively) and 'Red Chili' (30% and 18%,respectiv ely) in 1993 in early-season evaluations, but this injury was transient and did not significantly affect total fruit number or yield. Injury to any cu ltivar from POS-T clomazone at 0.56 and 1.12 kg.ha(-1) a.i. was nonsignific ant, Overall, tolerance to clomazone was excellent for all treatments and a cross all cultivars, Yield was not reduced significantly by any treatment. Chemical names used: 2-[(2-chlorophenyl) methyl]-4, 4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolid inone (clomazone).