In citrus orchard of São Paulo state, Brazil, one of the most employed post-emergency herbicide for weed control is glyphosate. However, when this herbicide is applied alone and at the recommended rates, it has been observed a selection of the weed Commelina virginica L. due to its great tolerance and the elimination of other weeds. Because of that, other chemicals must be studied to solve the problem. In this particular case, the herbicide should be sistemic and have a low toxicity to the operator and to the citrus trees. This work was conducted to study the efficacy of a ready mixture of glyphosate + 2,4-D compared to the products sprayed alone in orange orchards [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck]. The phytotoxicity effects were studied too. The experiment was carried out in Catanduva, São Paulo, Brazil, in a ten years old orange orchard, with 8,0 x 6,0m spacing. On february, 20 th, 1991, the herbicides were sprayed directly on 15-60cm height Commelina during its flowering. The results showed that the ready mixture was better in Commelina control than other treatments. No significant differences were observed for the rates greater than 0,60 + 0,80 kg a.i./ha. The results reinforced the sinergism theory within both products. None of the treatments caused visual phytotoxicity to orange trees.
Commelina sp.; Citrus sinensis; chemical control