Canada to approve FMC’s carfentrazone-ethyl herbicide

Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency is seeking 45 day’s public comment this month of full registration for the sale and use of FMC’s Aim (Carfentrazone-ethyl) Technical Herbicide and Quicksilver Herbicide, containing the technical grade active ingredient carfentrazone-ethyl, to control silvery-thread moss in golf course greens and tees.

Carfentrazone-ethyl is a herbicide belonging to the aryl triazolinone chemical family and is classified as a Group 14 herbicide by the Weed Science Society of America and as a Group E herbicide by the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee. It is rapidly absorbed by plant leaves and works by inhibiting the enzyme protoporphyrinogen oxidase in the chlorophyll biosynthetic pathway, which leads to cell membrane disruption and desiccation resulting in rapid development of chlorotic to necrotic symptoms and ultimately plant death.

Quicksilver Herbicide a post-emergence herbicide, it contains the active ingredient carfentrazone-ethyl at 224 grams per litre of product and controls silvery-thread moss (Bryum argenteum) in golf course greens and tees consisting of established creeping bentgrass, colonial bentgrass and annual bluegrass or consisting of newly seeded, sodded or sprigged creeping bentgrass.

One or more post-emergence applications (maximum of 440 g carfentrazone-ethyl/ha per year) of Quicksilver Herbicide along with a non-ionic surfactant (at 0.25% volume/volume) provide effective control of silvery-thread moss in golf course greens.