The Effect of Glyphosate on the Growth and Development of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. Apollo)

Abstract

Glyphosate is mainly used in agricultural applications to control weeds. The possibility of a spray of the herbicide affecting crop plants, through wind dispersal has made a study on the effects of the herbicide desirable. Tomato, an economically important crop, has been chosen as a test plant. To determine the effect of glyphosate on the growth and development of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. Apollo) plants, glyphosate was applied at different concentrations or at various time intervals after germination. After a 4-day period of observation, changes in leaf length and widthe, internode length, diameter of the vessel element and stomatai index were taken. It was found that glyphosate retarded growth and development of the tomato plants in the parameters mentioned except stomatai index. Possible causes for the observed response on glyphosate include interference with auxin transport and stomatai function, and reduction in net carbon exchange (NCE) and cell growth. Vessel diameter, and internode length were found to be dependent on increasing concentrations of glyphosate while leaf length, leaf width, and stomatai index were found to be dependent on the age of the plant at the time of application. Treated plants eventually died after 4 days.