ABSTRACT The action of photosystem I (PSI) inhibiting herbicides depends on light to cause oxidative stress in plants. However, their translocation is inhibited due to their rapid action in the presence of light. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of the herbicide diquat for control of corn plants subjected to different periods of absence of light after application. Two experiments (field and greenhouse) were conducted, applying the herbicide diquat (200 g a.i. ha−1) to maize plants at stage V4. The plants were subjected to different periods of absence of light after diquat application: 0; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5 and 6 hours. A treatment without herbicide application was used as a control. The control (%) and biomass of corn plants were evaluated in both experiments, and photosynthetic activity and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation in leaves were evaluated in the greenhouse experiment. The results showed that diquat needs at least 5 hours of absence of light after application to fully control corn plants. The plants recovered when using shorter periods (4 hours or less) of darkness, and injuries were restricted to points where the herbicide had contact with the plant. The ability of plants to recover was related to the higher photosynthetic activity and oxidative stress induction due to early light exposure. Thus, the lower production of H2O2 in plants kept in the dark for longer periods after herbicide application allows the translocation of the herbicide to meristems, which prevents regrowth of corn plants.

ABSTRACT Sour passion fruit is a fruit crop widely cultivated throughout Brazil, due to its adaptation to the tropical climate. However, in semi-arid regions its development is limited by the high concentration of soluble salts in the waters commonly used in irrigation. In this context, exogenous application of low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can attenuate the damage caused by salt stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate electrolyte leakage, photosynthetic pigments and photochemical efficiency in sour passion fruit cv. BRS Rubi do Cerrado under irrigation with saline waters and foliar application of hydrogen peroxide. A completely randomized design was used, with treatments arranged in split plots, corresponding to five levels of irrigation water salinity - ECw (0.6; 1.2; 1.8; 2.4 and 3.0 dS m−1) and four concentrations of hydrogen peroxide - H2O2 (0; 15; 30 and 45 μM of H2O2) in plots and subplots, respectively. Irrigation with saline water reduced chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll contents of sour passion fruit plants cv. BRS Rubi do Cerrado, at 240 days after transplanting. Hydrogen peroxide at concentration of 15 μM stimulated chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll biosynthesis and, at 45 μM, relieved the effect of 3.0 dS m−1 water salinity on electrolyte leakage in the leaf blade of sour passion fruit. Salt stress did not affect the initial, maximum, variable fluorescence and quantum efficiency of photosystem II of sour passion fruit cv. BRS Rubi do Cerrado.