Tolerance of Hymenaea courbaril L. to glyphosate

The objective was to evaluate the effect of the glyphosate on Hymenaea courbaril L. A randomized block design with five replications was implemented. Each experimental unit was composed of one plant in a 5 L container. The treatments were 0 control; 96; 240; 480; and 960 g ha-1 corresponding to 10, 25, 50, and 100% of the commercial dose of glyphosate recommended for Caryocar brasiliense crop, respectively. The evaluations were performed at 24 h and 60 days after application. Visual and anatomical evaluations did not change regardless of the dose, while the histochemical evaluation showed an accumulation of starch grains in leaf tissues. There was an increase in the photosynthetic rate, in the electron transport rate, and in the effective quantum yield of photosystem II at 24 h after application. At 60 days after the application of the treatments, the photosynthetic rate showed a slight decrease and the transpiratory rate showed quadratic behavior. An increase in plant height was observed up to the dose of 480 g ha-1, a linear increase in stem diameter and a decrease in the number of leaves with increasing glyphosate doses. These results show that the cuticle protected the plant, and that the little absorbed glyphosate increased photosynthesis and transpiration to favor the plants. We can conclude that the H. courbaril species is able to survive after contact with glyphosate during the evaluated time, with no visual and/or anatomical damage, showing increases in growth and physiological characteristics for the tested doses.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the effect of glyphosate on Hymenaea courbaril. While glyphosate did not affect the visual and anatomical structures of the plant, it did have a positive impact on photosynthesis and transpiration. Plant growth increased at lower glyphosate doses but the number of leaves decreased as the dose increased.