Differential morphological and physiological responses of two oilseed Brassica species to a new herbicide ZJ0273 used in rapeseed fields

Weeds are considered as a major threat to the production of oilseed Brassica crops. The use of herbicides that are safe for crops and effective in controlling weeds is crucial for the agronomists and farmers. Propyl 4-(2-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yloxy)benzylamino)benzoate (ZJ0273), a derivative of 2-pyrimidinyloxy-N-aryl benzoate, is a new herbicide used in the rapeseed field. To evaluate the tolerance of Brassica species against this new herbicide, two cultivars of rapeseed Brassica napus cv. ZS 758 and Brassica rapa cv. Xiaoyoucai were tested by a foliar spray of ZJ0273 at the rate of 100, 500 and 1000 mg/L and a currently used ALS (acetolactate synthase)-inhibiting herbicide bispyribac-sodium (BS) at the rate of 100 mg/L. The results showed that both the cultivars of Brassica were less affected by ZJ0273 as compared to BS. Increasing level of ZJ0273 herbicide from 100 to 1000 mg/L increased the stress for the plants of both the cultivars as indicated by enhanced accumulation of malondialdehyde content. The activities of ALS and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase), soluble protein and sugar contents, photosynthetic system (SPAD value, photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll fluorescence) as well as the agronomic characters also declined consistently with each successive increase in ZJ0273 concentration. In general, the plants treated with 100 mg/L ZJ0273 recovered from the herbicide stress after 28 days. B. napus showed more tolerance than B. rapa to the new herbicide. Nevertheless, BS application at 100 mg/L did not allow the plants of both the cultivars to recover from the herbicidal stress.