Bioherbicide effects of Trichoderma koningiopsis associated with commercial formulations of glyphosate in weeds and soybean plants

Given the environmental impacts and the need to control resistant weeds, there is a growing demand for alternative products that are less harmful to human health and the environment. In this sense, this work eval-uated the effect of the bioherbicide produced based on Trichoderma koningiopsis as alternative weed control, which was associated with different doses of three formulations of the commercial herbicide glyphosate (iso-propylamine salt, ammonium salt, and potassium salt), on the morpho-physiological characteristics of weeds of Euphorbia heterophylla L. and Brachiaria plantaginea (Link) Hitch.; and in the soybean crop (Glycine max L.). The experiment was carried out in vases with a completely randomized design, with five replications. The treatments consisted of keeping the plants in the presence and absence of the bioproduct (Trichoderma koningiopsis) in isolation and associated with 10, 20, 50, 70, 90, and 100% (m/v) of the herbicide dose recommended by the manufacturer. Plant performance was evaluated by morphological characteristics of height and weight of plants, length, and diameter of roots and stem, and visual phytotoxic effects. The herbicides Zapp Qi & REG;, Roundup Original & REG;, and Roundup WG & REG; associated with T. koningiopsis controlled the E. heterophylla plant from the lowest concentration (10% m/v) that caused 80%-90% of plant control. In the control of B. plantaginea, the treatments were efficient (100%) from half the recommended dose concentration of the commercial products. In the soy-bean crop, no significant phytotoxic visual damage or interference in the morphological characteristics of plants was observed. The association of synthetic herbicides with the bioherbicide proved efficient in controlling weeds and promising for reducing doses of synthetic herbicides.

Automated summary

Given the demand for alternatives that are less harmful to human health and the environment, this study evaluated the effect of a bioherbicide based on Trichoderma koningiopsis as an alternative weed control method. The bioherbicide, in combination with different doses of the commercial herbicide glyphosate, was tested on two weed species and soybean crops. It was found that the combination effectively controlled weed growth without causing significant damage to soybean crops. The use of synthetic herbicides in conjunction with the bioherbicide shows promise in reducing herbicide doses.