Tolerance of Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) saplings to herbicides

Spraying herbicides to reduce weed competition is a usual practice in agricultural regions. However, tree tending under agroforestry or forest plantations is hampered by the extensive use of these pesticides. Here, we assessed the survival, symptoms expression and growth of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) saplings after spraying different herbicides at recommended doses in two seasons: winter and spring. Three independent herbicide trials were carried out on oak sapling plots (E_WINTER 2013, E_SPRING 2012, E_SPRING 2013) in Ayacucho, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Plants were kept under uniform conditions in a nursery for about three months. We alternatively tested the herbicides (doses in sub-index, cc.ha-1 or g.ha-1) flumioxazin (FLUM100), glyphosate (GLIF2000, 4000, 6000), metsulfuron-methyl (METS8), dicamba (DIC120), propaquizafop (PROP500, 1000), flurochloridone (FLUO1000, 1500, 4000), atrazine (ATR2000, 4000), acetochlor (ACET2000), imazethapyr (IMAZE500, 1000) and imazapyr (IMAZA33, 100). At the end of each trial all plants survived, regardless of treatment, although the symptoms varied depending on the trial and product. Glyphosate associated with chlorosis, necrosis and deformation, propaquizafop with necrosis, and dicamba, flurochloridone, imazethapyr and imazapyr with chlorosis. ATR2000 and FLUO1500 treatments advanced the re-sprout phases. In terms of growth, saplings sprayed with IMAZE1000, IMAZA100 and GLIF6000 had lower total dry weight than the control (CT) (p<0.05), in E_SPRING 2012. In E_WINTER 2013 differences of dry weight were not significant, but in E_SPRING 2013, FLUO1500 sprayed saplings had a lower dry weight of roots than CT (p<0.05). Total plant height and stem diameter presented similar trends. According to the whole set of symptoms assessed, the application of FLUM100, ACET2000, ATR2000 or METS8 would be compatible with oak saplings production. The low effect of herbicides in wintertime might be related to different ways of avoidance to herbicide penetration: root depth, the absence of foliage or to the protective structure of buds (perulae); in spring, to root depth, leaf cuticle thickness and hairiness, and to the (high) capacity of the oaks to re-sprout. Although the results obtained are promising for oak plantation in sites exposed to common herbicides, further research is needed to assess long term responses, or to repeated applications over time.El uso de herbicidas en áreas agrícolas es una práctica usual para reducir la competencia de malezas. Sin embargo, la plantación de árboles en sistemas agroforestales o en macizos es amenazada por la aplicación extensiva de estos agroquímicos. En este estudio se evaluó supervivencia, síntomas y crecimiento inicial de plantines de roble pedunculado (Quercus robur) tratados con distintos herbicidas bajo las dosis usualmente recomendadas y en dos épocas del año: invierno y primavera. Con este fin se llevaron a cabo tres ensayos independientes sobre plantines de roble (E_WINTER 2013, E_SPRING 2012, E_SPRING 2013) en la localidad de Ayacucho, provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Las plantas se mantuvieron en el vivero durante aproximadamente tres meses bajo condiciones uniformes. Se probaron alternativamente los herbicidas (dosis en subíndices, en cc.ha-1 o g.ha-1): flumioxazin (FLUM100), glifosato, (GLIF2000, 4000, 6000), metsulfuronmetil (METS8), dicamba (DIC120), propaquizafop (PROP500, 1000), flurocloridona (FLUO1000, 1500, 4000), atrazina (ATR2000, 4000), acetoclor (ACET2000), imazetapir (IMAZE500, 1000) e imazapir (IMAZA33, 100). Al finalizar los ensayos todas las plantas sobrevivieron, independientemente de los tratamientos, aunque los síntomas variaron según los ensayos y productos aplicados. El glifosato se asoció con clorosis, necrosis y deformación de las hojas, propaquizafop con necrosis, y dicamba, fluorocloridona, imazetapir e imazapir con clorosis. Los tratamientos ATR2000 y FLUO1500 adelantaron las fases de rebrote. En cuanto al crecimiento, los plantines tratados con IMAZE1000, IMAZA100 y GLIF6000 alcanzaron un menor peso seco total que el control (CT) (p<0.05) en el ensayo E_SPRING 2012. En el ensayo E_WINTER 2013 no se observaron diferencias significativas en el peso seco, pero en E_SPRING 2013, con FLUO1500 los plantines alcanzaron menor peso seco de raíces que el control (p