Effects of glyphosate and phosphorus in eucalypt

Author(s)

Fernanda Campos Mastrotti Pereira

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Jaboticabal. 2016-07-18.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias. Jaboticabal
• Defense date: 2016-06-10
• Advisor: Pedro Luis da Costa Aguiar Alves

Abstract

Eucalypt plantation have great importance in the national and global economic environment, offering a wide range of forest products. However, the phosphorus availability in soils is rarely appropriate for growth, development and yield of eucalypt plants, as well as several other crops. The presence of weeds in eucalypt plantations is another limiting factor, and for weed management glyphosate is the most used herbicide. Eucalypt plants grown under different phosphorus concentrations can change phosphate transporters gene expression. Under specific conditions, high-affinity phosphate transporter synthesis can be increased. Such transporters can have affinity for glyphosate phosphonate group, transporting this herbicide through plasma membrane. So, changes may occur in glyphosate behavior depending on phosphorus concentrations. Studies of glyphosate effect as a function of phosphorus concentrations and glyphosate transport mediated by phosphate transporters are still scarce, especially in a perennial species, such as eucalypt. This study aimed (1) to evaluate, in Eucalyptus urophylla clones (GG100 and I144), the phosphorus absorption kinetics, the nutritional efficiency of macronutrients and their effects on plant growth; (2) verify the photosynthetic, nutritional and metabolic changes in E. urophylla clones (GG100 and I144) grown under phosphorus concentrations and submitted to glyphosate application; and (3) study in E. grandis the phosphate transporters gene expression coordination, the 14C-glyphosate uptake and translocation, and the 14C-glyphosate transport through the plasma membrane in protoplasts. The experiments with E. urophylla were carried out at São Paulo State University, Campus of Jaboticabal, SP, while the experiment with E. grandis were developed at University of Maryland, Maryland, USA. After the evaluation of phosphorus absorption kinetic parameters, I144 clone was considered superior, presenting lower Cmin and Km (respectively, the limiting concentration for absorbing an element in solution and the nutrient concentration in solution which was reached half of Vmax,) and higher Vmax (maximum rate of absorption). The efficiency of absorption, translocation and utilization of macronutrients were also higher in I144 clone, with the exception of potassium utilization efficiency, higher in GG100 clone. No differences in boron nutritional efficiency were found. For the evaluation of photosynthetic, nutritional and metabolic changes caused by glyphosate according phosphorus concentrations, experiments were performed in a greenhouse using sand (glyphosate sprayed in leaves) and in a growth chamber using hydroponic system (glyphosate applied in roots). For both experiments, nutrients were provided by nutrient solution, which was adjusted to phosphorus levels 0.5X, 1X and 1.5X (where X corresponded to the phosphorus concentration recommended for nutrient solution preparation). Interactions between phosphorus concentration and glyphosate doses occurred in the characteristics that evaluated the photosynthetic process (chlorophyll content and quantum efficiency of photosystem II), in the glyphosate, AMPA and shikimic acid content, and in the nutritional content and dry mass. These characteristics or contents were smaller or more strongly reduced after glyphosate in plants grown with lower phosphorus concentration (0.5X, and in some cases, 1X). Finally, experiments were conducted in E. grandis, and the gene expression of phosphate transporters (measured by RT-qPCR) in leaves and roots of these plants have been modified as a phosphate deficiency response. High-affinity transporters expression was increased by phosphate deficiency. The absorption of 14C-glyphosate applied in leaves or roots was higher in plants subjected to phosphate deficiency, and glyphosate translocation was also faster in these plants. In protoplasts, 14Cglyphosate transport via plasma membrane was fast in phosphate absence and slower when NaH2PO4 was added to the medium. Possibly, the phosphate transport through the plasma membrane was performed initially, and with the phosphate reduction in the medium, the glyphosate transport was started probably for highaffinity phosphate transporters. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/20705-3 - Glyphosate effects on growth, uptake and translocation of phosphorus in eucalyptus plants.
• Grantee: Fernanda Campos Mastrotti Pereira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate