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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » Natural Products Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #222287
Title: Glyphosate Applied at Low Doses Can Stimulate Plant Growth

Author
item VELINI, EDIVALDO - SAO PAULO STATE UNIV.
item ALVES, ELZA - SAO PAULO STATE UNIV.
item GODOY, MARIA - SAO PAULO STATE UNIV.
item MESCHEDE, DANA - SAO PAULO STATE UNIV.
item SOUZA, REGINALDO - SAO PAULO STATE UNIV.
item Duke, Stephen

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2008
Publication Date: 2/21/2008
Citation: Velini, E., Alves, E., Godoy, M., Meschede, D., Souza, R., Duke, S.O. 2008. Glyphosate Applied at Low Doses Can Stimulate Plant Growth. Pest Management Science. 64:489-496.

Interpretive Summary: Glyphosate is the most important herbicide in the world, especially since transgenic, glyphosate crops were introduced in 1996. There has been controversy about the effects of low levels of this herbicide on non-target vegetation. This paper confirms that glyphosate causes growth stimulation in a variety of plant species at low doses, implying that low doses are not harmful, and may even be beneficial.

Technical Abstract: Glyphosate blocks the shikimic acid pathway, inhibiting the production of aromatic amino acids and several secondary compounds derived from these amino acids. Non-target plants can be exposed to low doses of glyphosate by herbicide drift of spray droplets and contact with treated weeds. Previous studies have reported that low doses of glyphosate stimulate growth, although the data are very limited. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of low glyphosate doses on growth of a range of plant species.