Greenhouse studies were conducted from 2020 to 2021 to evaluate the effect of simulated drift rates of 2,4-D and dicamba on strawberry growth, fruit development, and fruit quality in Raleigh, NC. Treatments included 2,4-D choline and dicamba DGA plus Vapor Grip at 1/2×, 1/20×, and 1/200× of the 1× field rate of 1.09 and 0.8 kg ae ha–1, respectively. Treatments were applied to strawberry at three reproductive stages, including bud, flower, and fruit. Averaged across both herbicides, strawberry canopy size was reduced by the 1/2× rate 18, 25, 30, and 36% at 3, 6, 9, and 11 wk after treatment (WAT). The 1/2× rate of both herbicides caused greater injury to strawberry than the 1/20× or 1/200×, with maximum stunting from 2,4-D and dicamba of 54% and 36%, respectively. Fruit pH and total soluble solid content (SSC) increased due to the 1/2× rate of dicamba compared to the 1/20× and 1/200× rates and the nontreated. Treated fruit (across all herbicides) were larger than fruit developing following herbicide application to flowers or buds but were similar to nontreated fruit.
Nomenclature: 2,4-D; dicamba; strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa (Duch.) ‘Albion’
