Abstract:
Background: Using the biomass endpoint as a reference, the rates of change in the fluorescence parameters demonstrated how rapidly the photosystem II- inhibitor (PSII-inhibitor) bentazon; a mixture of PSII-inhibitors—phenmedipham, desmedipham, and ethofumesate (a very-long-chain fatty acid {VLCFA} inhibitor); and the acetolactate synthase inhibitor (ALS-inhibitor) nicosulfuron affected the plants.
Objective: The objective was to investigate how fluorescence parameters (Fv/Fm, Area above the Kautsky curve, and Performance Index (PI)) responded prior to biomass harvest.
Methods: Two greenhouse experiments were conducted with Amaranthus retroflexus plants as models. ED20, ED50, and ED80 parameters derived from log-logistic dose–response curves were estimated using meta-analysis to investigate inherent variability.
Results: For PSII-inhibitors, either applied alone or in combination with a VLCFA-inhibitor, Fv/Fm exhibited a negative linear slope with herbicide dose. The intercepts were close to the theoretical 0.8, one to two days after spraying (DAS). At three to four DAS, the response to PSII, and PSII combined with a VLCFA-inhibitor could be described by a log-logistic dose–response curve. For nicosulfuron, the Fv/Fm parameter showed a slope of zero and an intercept close to 0.8 across all DAS. Area and PI were imprecise in assessing the EDx values. Meta-analyses indicated that, in some cases, the variability of EDx was too high for these parameters to be considered reliable endpoints.
Conclusions: The variability of all fluorescence parameters, besides Fv/Fm, was too high compared to the biomass endpoint. The study emphasized that combining independent dose-response curve experiments and analyzing EDx-derived parameters is essential to capture the extent of dose-response variability.
Keywords:
Bentazon; Phenmedipham; Desmedipham; Ethofumesate; Nicosulfuron; Fv/Fm, Area, PI
1. Introduction
Amaranthus retroflexus L. (redroot pigweed) is a widespread annual and competitive C4 weed that can cause drastic crop yield losses (Cao et al., 2022). Amaranthus retroflexus exerts negative effects on various crops, including sunflower (Helianthus annus) (Soltani, 1994), maize (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L.) (Horak, Loughin, 2000), and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) (Brimhall et al., 1965).
The herbicides bentazon and nicosulfuron, along with Betanal Progress®—a commercial mixture of ethofumesate, phenmedipham, and desmedipham—are commonly used in Iran for the control of A. retroflexus. (Hesami, 2019).
The commercially available mixture consists of post-emergent herbicides that target a wide range of annual broadleaf weeds and inhibit the growth of certain monocot species (Hesami, 2019). It has been tested and approved specifically for controlling broadleaf weeds in sugar beet. Nicosulfuron, a key herbicide in corn production (Zand et al., 2010), which is extensively applied to control broadleaf and some monocot weed species in various crops (Shahbazi et al., 2015).
Bentazon, a benzothiadiazole, is a PSII inhibitor. It is a post-emergence herbicide used to control dicot weeds in several crops, including maize, beans, and soybeans. Bentazon is frequently applied in soybean for managing A. retroflexus and other broadleaf weeds (Aghajani et al., 2001). It typically induces changes in the chloroplasts, pigment ratios, and levels of chlorophyll-protein complexes within the photosynthetic apparatus (Cobb, Read, 2010). However, it is more readily translocated within the plant compared to desmedipham and phenmedipham. Desmedipham and phenmedipham are phenyl carbamates and PSII inhibitors. They rapidly penetrate the leaves but have restricted translocation via the xylem. As with most PSII inhibitors, weed mortality ultimately results from light-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage (Fufezan et al., 2002; Rutherford, Krieger-Liszkay, 2001).
Ethofumesate, a benzofuran, inhibits the biosynthesis of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA) (Székács, 2021). It interferes with the development of meristems, slowing cell division and restricting cuticle formation (Kohler, Branham, 2002). Therefore, ethofumesate may alter the absorption characteristics of other herbicides when used in mixtures.
Nicosulfuron is a sulfonylurea herbicide widely used to control both perennial and annual weeds. It inhibits acetolactate synthase (ALS), thereby suppressing the formation of branched-chain amino acids such as valine, leucine, and isoleucine (Cobb, Read, 2010; Hennigh et al., 2010; Lum et al., 2005). The inhibition of branched-chain amino acid synthesis also negatively impacts the photosynthetic apparatus over time (Cobb, Read, 2010; Lum et al., 2005; Yuan et al., 2014). According to Wang et al. (2022) nicosulfuron reduced plant growth and development, disrupted antioxidant systems, and ultimately decreased chlorophyll content, thereby impairing photosynthetic productivity.
Evaluation of changes in the chlorophyll fluorescence Kautsky curve and its derived parameters has been used as an early indicator of herbicide effects on plants, before visible symptoms of herbicide damage appear. For instance, PSI and PSII inhibitors, and herbicides with other modes of action that generate ROS, can be studied using chlorophyll fluorescence (Christensen et al., 2003). This technique is non-destructive, highly sensitive to changes, fast, and easy to evaluate, providing valuable insights into the functioning of photosynthetic apparatus (Frankart et al., 2003).
The objective of this study was to investigate how rapidly herbicides with different modes of action affected Kautsky curve parameters prior to the harvest of weed biomass. More specifically, we aimed to determine which fluorescence parameters were influenced by the herbicides tested, and how rapidly and precisely the herbicides impacted these parameters. Finally, we summarized the independent experiments to investigate the presence of a variation in the differences within EDx parameters (ED20, ED50, and ED80).
2. Material and Methods
Completely randomized experiments, with four replicates for each herbicide or herbicide-mixture were conducted in a greenhouse at the Faculty of Agriculture, Gonbad Kavous University, Iran in 2022. For each herbicide, two independent experiments were performed to assess the variability of the effective dose endpoints (ED50, ED50, and ED80).
2.1 Plant material
Amaranthus retroflexus seeds were collected from Gorgan, Golestan province, Iran. Seeds were placed in trays containing a peat and moss mixture in a 1:1 ratio. After emergence, three seedlings were transplanted into 15-cm diameter pots filled with a mixture of soil, sand, and peat (1:1:1 v/v). The pots were sub-irrigated daily. The average temperature was 30 °C (min: 28 °C and max: 32 °C) with a relative humidity of 75% within the greenhouse complex.
2.2 Herbicide application
The herbicides used in this study, along with their formulations, active ingredient concentrations, and application doses, are summarized in Table 1.
Applied doses of bentazon (Basagran®), nicosulfuron, and Betanal Progress® used on Amaranthus retroflexus
Amaranthus retroflexus was sprayed at the recommended 3-4 leaf stage, with a 200 L ha-1 spray solution at a pressure of 300 kPa using an 8002 flat fan nozzle.
Amaranthus retroflexus plants were harvested 14 days after spraying (DAS). Dry matter biomass was measured after oven drying at 75 °C for 48 hours.
2.3 Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and biomass measurements
Chlorophyll fluorescence was measured at one, two, three, four and five DAS using a portable chlorophyll fluorometer (Handy PEA, Hansatech Instruments, King's Lynn, Norfolk, UK). Leaves were dark-adapted for 30 minutes using leaf clips, and measurements were taken with a 650 nm light pulse at an intensity of 3,000 μmol photons m-² s-¹ for 10 seconds (Maxwell, Johnson, 2000). Fluorescence parameters including Fv/Fm, Area and performance index (PI) were recorded to monitor the effects of various herbicide treatments.
Fv/Fm represents the maximum quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry and indicates the level of photoinhibition or stress, with a theoretical value of approximately 0.8 in non-stressed plants (Maxwell, Johnson, 2000). F0 denotes initial fluorescence, Fm, represents maximum capacity, and Fv (calculated as Fm − F) reflects variable fluorescence, corresponding to the potential for photochemical quenching.
PI is one of the comprehensive parameters in chlorophyll fluorescence analysis, especially used for assessing the health and efficiency of PSII (Strasser et al., 2000). This parameter provides more specified information compared to the Fv/Fm ratio (Strasser et al., 2000). The PI index reflects the general ability of PSII to absorb, transfer, and utilize light energy and measures the total performance of the electron transport through PSII (Ceusters et al., 2019).
RC/ABS represent the density of active reaction centers per absorbed light energy, ϕPo equal as Fv/Fm define maximum quantum yield of PSII, ψo shows electron transport efficiency (Strasser et al., 2000).
Area refers to the geometric area between the Kautsky curve and the maximum fluorescence level. This parameter indicates the total number of electrons that are transferred from QA- to the next electron transport chain. In other words, Area refelects the overall capacity of the electron transport chain on the acceptor side of PSII (Strasser et al., 2000).
2.4 Statistical analysis
The changes in Kautsky curve parameters in response to different herbicides were initially modeled using linear regression of the parameter values against herbicide doses over time. When the dose-response relationship appeared to follow a sigmoidal pattern, a three-parameter log-logistic model was fitted to the data (Eq. 1) (Ritz et al., 2015; Streibig et al., 1993).
In the model, U represents the response endpoint at a dose z. D is the upper asymptote corresponding to the response in the absence of herbicide (untreated control). C denotes the lower asymptote at infinitely high herbicide doses. In this study, the lower limit C was assumed to be zero. Thus, the ED50 is defined as the dose resulting in a 50% reduction of the maximum response (D/2), and b represents the slope around the ED50 value. At certain sampling times, the log-logistic dose-response model (Eq. 1) was appropriate for describing the variation of Kautsky curve parameter endpoints over time.
Dose-response analyses were performed using R software (Version 4.4.0). For mixed linear regression models applied at early DAS, the lme4 package (Version 1.1-37) combined data from the two independent experiments. For the log-logistic regression model, the drc package (Version 3.0-1) was employed (Ritz et al., 2015). Additionally, the metafor package (Version 4.6-0) was used to conduct meta-analyses and summarize EDx (ED20, ED50, and ED80) values across the two experiments (Ritz et al., 2019).
Biomass and log-logistic dose-response Kautsky curve parameters were based on ED20, ED50, and ED80. From the first to the fifth DAS, some Kautsky curve parameters moved from linear to sigmoid dose-response relationships, allowing the derivation of EDx. Log-logistic regression was applied to Kautsky curve parameters at five DAS, nine days before the final biomass harvest.
The linear or log-logistic nonlinear regressions were assessed through graphical analysis of residuals. A two-step approach was used to combine the two independent experimental runs with the same herbicide (Ritz et al., 2019). The first step involved separately fitting the individual dose-response curves fitting the individual dose-response curves separately to obtain the relevant regression parameters (ED20, ED50, and ED80) and their associated standard errors. In the second step, meta-analysis was applied using the metafor R package to combine estimates from individual experimental runs into a pooled estimate (Ritz et al., 2019).
3. Results and Discussion
In addition to the correlation analysis of the three Kautsky curve parameters (Figure 1), the results enable a comparison between the fluorescence-derived endpoints and the biomass EDx values measured at 14 DAS. Biomass served as the reference endpoint against which the other Kautsky curve-derived parameters were evaluated.
Correlations among Kautsky curve parameters in A. retroflexus treated with bentazon, a mixture of ethofumesate, phenmedipham, and desmedipham, and nicosulfuron. The histograms along the diagonal display the distribution of each respective Kautsky curve parameter. Correlation coefficients for herbicides are presented in the upper right graphs. Three stars for all correlation coefficients indicate a highly significant correlation (p<0.001). The sizes of the correlation coefficient font also indicate the magnitude. However, the correlations between Fv/Fm, Area, and PI were non-linear for Bentazon and the Mixture
3.1 Correlation analyses
The Kautsky curve offers a wide range of derived parameters, many of which are highly correlated. From the numerous parameters suggested based on the shape and characteristics of the Kautsky curve (Ritz, Streibig, 2009), the present study focused on Fv/Fm, Area, and PI, measured during the first five DAS (Figure 1). These parameters were selected for their ability to reveal herbicidal effects shortly after spraying (Christensen et al., 2003).
The Kautsky parameters exhibited strong inter-correlations (Figure 1). However, for bentazon (a PSII inhibitor) and the mixture (combining PSII and VLCFA inhibition), the distribution of the measurements was non-linear; therefore, the correlation coefficients should not be considered. In contrast, the correlations observed for nicosulfuron were all nearly linear, thus satisfying the assumptions required for reliable linear correlation analysis.
Nicosulfuron, is an ALS inhibitor that disrupts the biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids. Therefore, its primary mode of action is not directly related to photosynthesis processes (Hennigh et al., 2010).
3.2 Bentazon
3.2.1 Fv /Fm and Biomass
The Fv/Fm endpoint exhibited a rapid response at the first and second DAS. For both DAS the intercepts were close to the theoretical value of 0.8. The slope showed a significantly negative trend (p<0.05) in the first experiment at one DAS (Figure 2A), and a highly significant negative slope (p<0.001) in the second experiment at two DAS (Figure 2B).
Mixed linear regression of Fv/Fm values in response to bentazon doses. At 1 DAS (A), the intercept was close to the theoretical value of 0.8 for unstressed plants, and the mixed model showed a significant negative slope (p<0.05). At 2 DAS (B), the negative slope was more pronounced (p<0.001), and the intercept deviated slightly more from the theoretical 0.8 value
For the first experimental run, Fv/Fm at three DAS could be described by Eq 1, and the same applies for the second experiment at four DAS (data not shown).
The y and x axes in Figure 3 were scaled to allow direct comparison of the shapes and positions of the graphs between endpoints. The biomass dose-response curves 14 DAS were similar for both experiments (Figure 3A and B). The untreated controls for Fv/Fm were close to the theoretical value of 0.8 (Figure 3C and D). Although the response curves for both experiments were similar, the responses’ distributions were not as clear as those observed for biomass.
Graphs A and C display biomass and Fv/Fm data from Experiment 1, while graphs B and D show the corresponding data from Experiment 2. To enable comparison of the curve positions along the dose axis, the y-axes for biomass and Fv/Fm are standardized, respectively. The graphs present the mean values of the dose-response observations
The ED20, ED50, and ED80 values were derived from the fittings of Eq 1, and the pooled mean was calculated using a meta-analysis (Ritz et al., 2019) (Figure 4). Fv/Fm appeared to be more sensitive than biomass, exhibiting lower ED values (compare Figure 4A and B). It is common for different endpoints to exhibit varying sensitivities. For both biomass and Fv/Fm (Figure 4A and B), the differences between the different EDx within the endpoints were all highly significant (p<0.001). The question arises as to why this is so rarely addressed in literature.
Meta-analysis of EDx values for dry matter revealed highly significant differences (p<0.001) (Figure A). Similarly, the EDx values for Fv/Fm were all significantly different from each other (p<0.01) (Figure B). The 95% confidence intervals were asymmetrical around the EDx estimates due to the back-transformation from logarithmic values
Fv/Fm was measured on the fifth DAS. The clear separation among the ED20, ED50, and ED80 values in Figure 4 indicates low variability in the relative slopes among the dose-response curves. For both biomass and Fv/Fm endpoints, the differences among EDx values were highly significant (p<0.001), suggesting a consistent pattern in herbicidal responses across dose levels.
Generally, ED50 is the most precise estimate among the effective dose levels. However, from an agronomic perspective, it merely reflects general toxicity and may not represent a practically useful level of weed control. For managing A. retroflexus, end-users might be more interested in higher effective doses such as ED90 or ED95, which correspond to agriculturally relevant control levels. Estimating such high-end EDx values, however, requires sufficient data to establish robust lower asymptotes. Without those data, the uncertainties associated with ED90 or ED95 can be extremely large and, in many cases, not significantly different from zero (as illustrated for nicosulfuron in Figure 9).
3.2.2 Area and PI
Unlike Fv/Fm, which has a theoretical reference value of approximately 0.8 in the untreated control, the Area and PI parameters lacked consistent reference values between the two independent experiments (Figure 5). Linear regressions of Area versus dose revealed substantial differences in intercepts as early as one DAS (data not shown). From three DAS onward, the dose-response relationships could be adequately described using Eq. 1, although the models exhibited considerable standard errors for the upper limit parameter. Moreover, a significant ED50 was observed in the first experiment, while the second did not yield a significant ED50 estimate (data not shown).
For the Area parameter (Figure A), ED20 differed significantly from both ED50 and ED80 (p<0.001). In contrast, no significant differences were observed among ED20, ED50, and ED80 for the Performance Index (PI), as indicated by the large confidence intervals (Figure B). The 95% confidence interval bars were asymmetrical around the EDx estimates due to the back-transformation from logarithmic values
For Area, ED20 was different from ED50 and ED80 (p< 0.001), whereas no significant difference was found between ED50 and ED80. For PI, no significant differences were observed among ED20, ED50, and ED80 due to the large 95% confidence intervals (Figure 5B).
3.3 The Mixture (Ethofumesate, desmedipham, and phenmedipham)
The mixture comprises two contact herbicides—desmedipham and phenmedipham, both acting as PSII inhibitors—and ethofumesate, which exhibits limited movement within the plant and inhibits VLCFA synthesis (Székács, 2021).
3.3.1 Kautsky Parameters and Biomass
Similar to bentazon, the Fv/Fm intercepts for the mixture were close to the theoretical maximum of 0.8. The linear regressions showed significantly negative slopes (p<0.001) (Figure 6A and B), indicating that the herbicide doses began affecting the plants as early as one and two DAS.
The mixed linear regressions of Fv/Fm on the dose of the herbicide mixture (ethofumesate, phenmedipham, and desmedipham) at one DAS (Figure 6A) and two DAS (Figure 6B) showed highly significant negative slopes (p<0.001). In both cases, the intercepts were close to the theoretical value of 0.8 for unstressed plants
The meta-analysis of biomass harvested at 14 DAS showed that ED20 was significantly different from ED50 and ED80 (p<0.01) (Figure 7A). However, no significant differences were observed between ED20 and ED50, or between ED50 and ED80. (Figure 7A). This lack of significance was likely due to insufficient data points on the declining portion of the dose-response curve (data not shown).
The meta-analysis of biomass harvested at 14 DAS showed that ED20 differed from ED50 and ED80 (p< 0.01) (Figure 7A), although no significant differences were found between ED20 and ED50 or between ED50 and ED80. The confidence intervals for Fv/Fm (Figure 7B), Area (Figure 7C), and PI (Figure 7D) at five DAS were too wide to detect differences among the EDs, due to high variability between the independent experiments. The 95% confidence interval bars were asymmetrical around the EDx estimates due to the back-transformation from logarithmic values
The three Kautsky curve parameters in Figure 7B–D showed no significant differences among ED20, ED50, and ED80 within each endpoint (Fv/Fm, Area, and PI), as the combined confidence intervals were too wide. Nevertheless, the two-step meta-analysis for the EDx estimates revealed a common trend: higher EDx values were generally associated with wider confidence intervals, except for Area (Figure 7C). This pattern likely resulted from the concentration of data points in the upper portion of the dose-response curves (data not shown).
3.4 Nicosulfuron
Nicosulfuron is readily absorbed by the aerial parts of plants, and it is systemically translocated via the phloem. As an ALS inhibitor, it does not produce rapid control of plants, as it requires time to deplete the concentration of branched-chain amino acids, affecting the entire plant (Cobb, Read, 2010). Consequently, the rapid effects on certain Kautsky parameters, observed with bentazon and the mixture, which contains PSII inhibiting herbicides, were not immediately evident following the application of Nicosulfuron.
Nicosulfuron causes chlorosis in the meristematic growth points, which worsens as plants become deficient in essential branched-chain amino acids (Cobb, Read, 2010). Full control usually takes three to four weeks, ultimately leading to the plant's demise.
Figures 8A and B demonstrated that nicosulfuron did not significantly alter the linear dose-response regressions. The Fv/Fm remained virtually unaffected across all five DAS, with the slopes not differing from zero. Similarly, Kargar et al. (2019) reported that the Fv/Fm, parameter was not influenced by mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron in wild oat.
The mixed linear regressions of Fv/Fm on nicosulfuron dose at one DAS (Figure 8A) and five DAS (Figure 8B) showed no significant slopes; Fv/Fm remained virtually unaffected. The intercepts were close to the theoretical value of 0.8, indicating no visible stress response in the early days after application
Figures 9A and B illustrated that biomass harvested at 14 DAS only represented the upper part of the dose-response curve, and the confidence intervals of the regression lines were rather wide. As a result, the EDs for biomass were not significantly different from each other (Figure 9C). This was likely due to the pronounced difference in the relative slopes between the two experiments (Figures 9A and B), which caused wide confidence intervals of the biomass dose-response curves. However, the difference between ED20 and ED80 was significantly different (p<0.01) as shown in Figure 9C.
The regression confidence interval from biomass experiment 1 (Figure 9A) was considerably narrower than that from biomass experiment 2 (Figure 9B). Although both plots share similar y- and x-axis scales, the relative slopes differ. This variation is reflected in meta-analysis (Figure 9C), where the confidence intervals are relatively wide. Nonetheless, the differences between ED20 and ED80 were statistically significant (p < 0.01). The 95% confidence interval bars in Figure 9C were asymmetrical around the EDx estimates due to the back-transformation from logarithmic values.
The Kautsky parameters, Area and PI, were unstable between the two experiments (Data not shown). However, PI could be fitted with a log-logistic model, though the distribution of the endpoints and the resulting regression parameters were not convincing enough to establish a stable upper limit.
4. Conclusions
The Kautsky curve parameters were highly correlated; however, the correlations of PSII inhibitor parameters were nonlinear within the first five DAS. Linear correlations were found for the non-ROS-generating nicosulfuron. It can be tentatively concluded that herbicides with direct or indirect effects on plants’ ROS generation can be detected with Fv/Fm within the first five DAS. Furthermore, Fv/Fm has a well-known theoretical upper value of around 0.8 in untreated controls, provided the plants are not stressed.
The other Kautsky curve-derived parameters, including Area above the Kautsky curve and the Performing Index (PI), were variable and poor indicators of an early effect. Numerous combinations of Kautsky-derived parameters are mentioned in the literature, but a literature search by the authors on correlations among Kautsky curve-derived parameters, such as in Figure 1, was not found.
This paper demonstrates that the quality of the dose-response endpoint distribution is crucial for understanding and comparing variations within and between experiments. In experiments for the research, development, and registration of new pesticides, end users are primarily concerned with the extremes: the sensitivity of a crop (ED20) and the control of weeds (ED80). Importantly, we show these should be based on the variation of results derived from combining multiple independent experiments.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Mojtaba Salehi for his great cooperation. Also, we would thank postdoc Guy Robert Yeoman Coleman, Ph.D., Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen for valuable help to improve the English and many Weed Science related comments and suggestions.
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Edited by
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Editor in Chief:
Carol Ann Mallory-Smith
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Associate Editor:
RicardoAlcántara-de la Cruz
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
03 Oct 2025 -
Date of issue
2025
History
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Received
14 Dec 2024 -
Accepted
06 June 2025


















