Physiological and anatomical responses of Eugenia dysenterica to glyphosate

Abstract

Brazil is among the countries that most use pesticides in the world. These chemicals cause undesirable changes in ecosystems, particularly the contamination of non-target native forest species through drift. The nuisances caused by pesticides go beyond environmental damage and include public health problems. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of glyphosate on leaf gas exchange, photosynthetic pigments and morphoanatomy of seedlings of Eugenia dysenterica. The visual toxicity, physiological and morphoanatomical characteristics of E. dysenterica, when exposed to concentrations of 0, 550, 1110 and 2220 g a.e. ha-1 of glyphosate, were analyzed. The results indicate that the herbicide caused toxicity in the leaves in all treatments. Reductions in photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration (E) at 47 DAA, were also identified. Glyphosate caused damage to the anatomical structures of E. dysenterica leaves. From the data analyzed it is possible to affirm that plants of E. dysenterica are sensitive to the action of glyphosate. Visible symptoms such as chlorosis and necrosis in the leaf edge are indicators that can be used by rural communities as a warning of the risk of contamination.