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Inhibition of Chlorophyll Accumulation by Glyphosate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Lynn M. Kitchen
Affiliation:
Agron. Dep., Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546
William W. Witt
Affiliation:
Agron. Dep., Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546
Charles E. Rieck
Affiliation:
Agron. Dep., Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546

Abstract

Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] significantly decreased the chlorophyll content of field-grown soybeans (Glycine max L. Merr. ‘Williams’) within 48 h after a 2.24-kg/ha treatment. In laboratory studies, 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mM glyphosate reduced chlorophyll content of 7-day-old etiolated barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ‘Barsoy’) shoots 8, 12, 25, 49, and 77%, respectively, following 8 h dark incubation and 24 h illumination. Reduction of chlorophyll accumulation ranged from 6% with 0.001 mM glyphosate to 82% with 1.0 mM glyphosate. In studies with 8-day-old etiolated corn (Zea mays L. ‘Pioneer Brand 3535’) shoots, 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 mM glyphosate decreased chlorophyll content of corn shoots 24, 42, and 50%, respectively, after 12 h of illumination. The rate of chlorophyll accumulation in corn shoots was significantly reduced 64% by 1.0 mM glyphosate over a 15-h illumination period. These rapid and substantial effects on chlorophyll accumulation suggest that interference with greening may be important in the mechanism of action of glyphosate.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1981 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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