Glyphosate accumulation, translocation, and biological effects in Coffea arabica after single and multiple exposures

Lars Christoph Schrübbers, Bernal E. Valverde, Bjarne W. Strobel, Nina Cedergreen

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In perennial crops like coffee, glyphosate drift exposure can occur multiple times during its commercial life span. Due to limited glyphosate degradation in higher plants, a potential accumulation of glyphosate could lead to increased biological effects with increased exposure frequency. In this study, we investigated glyphosate translocation over time, and its concentration and biological effects after single and multiple simulated spray-drift exposures. Additionally, shikimic acid/glyphosate ratios were used as biomarkers for glyphosate binding to its target enzyme.Four weeks after the exposure, glyphosate was continuously translocated. Shikimic acid levels were lin-ear correlated with glyphosate levels. After two months, however, glyphosate appeared to have reduced activity. In the greenhouse, multiple applications resulted in higher internal glyphosate concentrations.The time of application, however, was more important regarding biological effects than the number of applications both in the greenhouse and in the field. In the field, berry yield, the most important biological response variable, was reduced 26% by the first out of four sequential applications of glyphosate at 64 g a.e. ha 1each. The three subsequent applications did not reduce yield any further.
Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Journal of Agronomy
Volume74
Pages (from-to)133-143
Number of pages11
ISSN1161-0301
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

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