This work was carried out under greenhouse conditions to evaluate the effect of trifloxysulfuron-sodium on the growth of the cotton cultivar Fabrika. The plants were treated or not treated with 7.5 g a.i. ha-1 of trifloxysulfuron-sodium 19 days after emergence, when they had four true leaves (stage V4). Plant growth indices were determined at 0, 7, 14, 24, 36, 52, and 73 days after application - DAA) of the herbicide. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized block design, with four replications. Herbicide-induced plant poisoning was strongest at 20 DAA with 35% damage. Dry matter accumulation of the main stem, total leaves, main branch leaves, and shoot and leaf area increased with cotton development. However, the maximum growth point for these characteristics was reached earlier by the control-plants, except for total foliar area. In general, the absolute and relative growth rates and net assimilation rate were lowest at the initial evaluations, in the herbicide-treated plants. The control-plants had more noticeable reduction in the leaf area rate than the herbicide-treated plants. Trifloxysulfuron-sodium also caused a delay in the growth of bolls, which presented half of the dry matter accumulation 52 DAA, compared to the control plants; however, cotton productivity was similar among the treatments. Trifloxysulfuron-sodium influenced cotton development negatively, mainly during the first weeks after application but it did not affect cotton productivity.
Gossypium hirsutum; absolute growth rate; net assimilation rate; relative growth rate; weed
