Selective Herbicidal Action of Amiben on Cucumber and Squash

The relative tolerance of cucumber and squash to amiben was established for germinating seeds, and for young plants with both foliage and root applications. In all cases, the dosage required for 50% inhibition of growth was 6 to 8 times greater for squash than for cucumber. Root applications of carbon-14 labeled amiben on reciprocal grafts of cucumber and squash plants indicated that the shoots were spared in these experiments by differential blocking of amiben transport from the roots. Shoots of either species appeared tolerant on squash roots and susceptible on cucumber roots. Radioactivity in the shoots of both species was much greater when grafted on cucumber than on squash. Foliage applications of carbon-14 labeled amiben showed more entry into cucumber than squash, but little movement to untreated plant parts in either species.