RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: PRIMUS was developed in maize in Belgium in 1999 and 2000 in the course of research into limiting or replacing the use of triazines in maize. One of the imperatives of this research was to find the lowest possible residue content (MRL). SELECTIVITY TEST: An application of florasulam, at the dose of 5 g of active substance (a.s.) at the 2 to 3 leaf stage of the maize was found to be selective on 132 (in 1999) and 126 (in 2000) varieties of maize. EFFICACY TEST: Florasulam was tested at doses of between 1 and 5 g a.s./hectare. The treatments were applied in early postemergence at the 3-5 leaf stage of the maize or in 2 separate applications: at the 1 leaf stage with a dose of 2 g a.s. florasulam at the 4 leaf stage with a dose of 2 g a.s. florasulam The herbicide was fully effective on the sensitive flora. A summary of the results is presented. A detailed weed spectrum is defined. PROGRAMMES: Herbicide programmes were developed on the basis of these findings. The results showed that the best partners for florasulam were triketones (sulcotrione and mesotrione) in very low doses. Sulcotrione was applied at doses of 75 to 150 g a.s./ha and mesotrione at 25 to 50 g a.s./ha. Triple mixes of florasulam + triketone + nicosulfuron in very low doses and 1 or 2 applications were also tested. The results were highly encouraging and this work should lead to practical recommendations. PHYTOTOXICITY: Phytotoxicity was observed on some occasions. The phytotoxicity results for the different figures seem, however, to depend more on the climate (difference between daytime and night-time temperatures just before and after the treatment) than on the products tested in the mixes. However, the florasulam + nicosulfuron (sulfonyl-urea antigrasses) may sometimes cause serious problems with selectivity. The phytotoxicity noted in the tests was usually short-lived (30 days). CONCLUSION: The results of the tests show that it is possible to consider replacing atrazine-based programmes with very low doses of modern herbicides applied at early stages of the maize. A mixture of active substances is vital. Repeated very low doses at the 1/2 and 4/5 leaf stages of the maize were found to be the most effective.