Effect of herbicide based formulations on structure and function of testis in rats

For instant weed management, widely used herbicide formulations (HFs) are Paraquat based formulation (PBF) or Glyphosate based formulation (GBF). Here, we investigated the effect of PBF Gramoxone® and GBF Roundup® on the structure and function of the testis of the male Wistar rats at the pubertal or post pubertal stage. Male rats were gavaged with Gramoxone® (5 mg/kg body wt.) or Roundup® (250 mg/kg body wt.). The treatment period of 25 days starts on a postnatal day (PND) 28 to 53 (from pre-pubertal to the pubertal stage) or 60 days from PND 28 to 88 (from prepubertal to the post pubertal stage). Age-matched control animals received distilled water. The structure of the testes was evaluated by observing changes in its histology and the function of the testes was assessed by estimating serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone levels. No significant effect was observed in the structure and function of the testes of the pubertal stage rats on exposure to both herbicide formulations. However, shrunken and distorted seminiferous tubules with oligozoospermia in testes, a non-significant decrease in FSH and LH, and a significant reduction in testosterone levels were noted in the post pubertal stage rats. The results indicated that changes in the testes of post pubertal groups are due to a longer duration of exposure to the Gramoxone® or Roundup® than in pubertal groups, and also the effect of these two formulations was more on the testis structure and function than on the pituitary-testis axis

Can a successional crop system associated with preemergent herbicides be a tool to control weeds?

The objective of this research was to evaluate weed control in a successional soybean-sorghum system by using preemergent herbicides. Two trials were conducted in soybean and two in sorghum, in different soil types (sandy in Rio Verde city and clayey in Montividiu city). All trials were established in a completely randomized block design with five preemergent herbicides in soybean (rates in): diclosulam 35.3 g a.i.·ha­1, chlorimuron 20 g a.i.·ha­1, sulfentrazone 200 g a.i.·ha­1, flumioxazin 50 g a.i.·ha­1, S-metolachlor 1728 g a.i.·ha­1, and two controls (hand weeded and untreated). Treatments in sorghum trials were the same to the soybean plus atrazine 1250 g a.i.·ha­1 and atrazine 1250 g a.i.·ha­1 + S-metolachlor 1728 g a.i.·ha­1. All treatments had four replicates. Weed control was assessed at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after planting (DAP) in both crops. In addition, yield was measured when grains reached physiological maturity. All preemergent herbicide treatments successfully controlled weeds, specially Commelina benghalensis, Cenchrus echinatus and Eleusine indica, in both soybean trials until 28 DAP. In some weeds of sorghum, sulfentrazone, diclosulam and chlorimuron sprayed at soybean preemergence performed better than atrazine sprayed at sorghum preemergence. All preemergent herbicides sprayed at soybean preemergence did not affect soybean and sorghum yield, showing similarity with the hand weeded treatment. The results of this research provide evidence that the mix of crop succession and preemergent herbicide applications can be a strong strategy for integrated weed management.

Effects of weeds on crops and their ecological control in ecological agriculture of Chinese materia medica / 中国中药杂志

Weeds is one of the important parts of agricultural ecosystem of Chinese materia medica. Weeds is a double-edged sword with advantages and disadvantages for the cultivated medicinal plants. In this study, we firstly analyzed the positive and negative effects of weeds on the yield and quality of Chinese materia medica. We then explored the possible mechanisms for the weeds' positive effects from the aspects of interspecific relationship, soil microecological environment, light environment, natural control of pests and so on. We also summarized three basic principles of weed control, that is, "making medicinal plants and weeds coexist harmoniously, achieving the overall optimum growth of medicinal plants", "prevention first, integrated control" and "preserving beneficial weeds and increasing their beneficial effects, removing harmful weeds and control their adverse effects". Finally, we introduced several common weed ecological control technology in field of the cultivated medicinal plants in China, including technology of controlling weeds by no-tillage, stral mulch, rotation, alternative herbs, competitive crops, and allelopathy. This study is aimed to apply the ecology theory to guide weed management and control, so as to achieve the goal of advantages promotion and disadvantages elimination of weeds to cultivated medicinal plants, making weeds into treasure and to promote the sustainable and healthy development of Chinese medicinal materials production and the protection of weed diversity.

Luz, giberelinas y profundidad de siembra inciden sobre la germinación de semillas de Amaranthus hybridus L / Light, gibberellins and burial depth affect seed germination of Amaranthus hybridus L

RESUMEN Amaranthus hybridus L., conocido como bledo, es una planta maleza en una gran variedad de cultivos en el mundo, que se caracteriza por producir alto número de semillas latentes. Para generar estrategias de manejo sostenibles en esta especie es necesario comprender mejor la fisiología de sus semillas. Por tanto, el objetivo fue evaluar el efecto de la luz, de las giberelinas y la profundidad de la siembra sobre la germinación de semillas de bledo. En un primer experimento, se evaluaron cuatro tratamientos de luz (rojo, azul, sin luz y luz natural «testigo¼); en el segundo, se imbibieron semillas en diferentes concentraciones de ácido giberélico (0, 200, 400 y 800mg L-1 de GA3) y, en un último experimento, se evaluaron ocho profundidades de siembra (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 y 80mm), utilizando turba como sustrato. Se encontró mayor porcentaje de germinación en oscuridad, indicando que son semillas fotoblásticas negativas. Para el experimento de giberelinas, el mejor resultado se obtuvo con 400 y 800mg L-1 de ácido giberélico. En el tercer experimento, se observó alto porcentaje de emergencia de plántulas en las primeras profundidades (10mm a 30mm); a mayor profundidad hubo menor emergencia. La respuesta diferencial a la luz, a la aplicación de las giberelinas y el alto porcentaje de semillas viables que no germinaron permite concluir que semillas de bledo poseen latencia fisiológica.

ABSTRACT Amaranthus hybridus L., known as bledo, is a weed in a wide variety of crops worldwide, characterized by producing high number of seeds with dormancy. To generate sustainable management strategies of this species, it is necessary to better understand the physiology of its seeds. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the effect of light, gibberellins, and seed burying depth on seed germination of bledo. In the first experiment, four light conditions were evaluated (red, blue, without light and natural light (control)), in the second experiment the seeds were imbibed in different concentrations of gibberellic acid (0, 200, 400 and 800mg L-1 of GA3), and in the last experiment, 8 planting depths were evaluated (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 or 80mm) using peat as a substrate. A higher percentage of seed germination in darkness was found, indicating that this species had negative photoblastic seeds. For the gibberellin experiment, the best result was obtained with treatment with 400 and 800mg L-1 of gibberellic acid. In the third experiment, a high percentage of seedling emergence was observed from the first depths (10mm to 30mm); the greater was the depth, the less emergence was found. The differential responses to light, the application of gibberellins, and the high percentage of non-germinated viable seeds allowed to conclude that bledo seeds possess physiological dormancy.

Competitive interaction and economic injury level of Urochloa plantaginea in corn hybrids / Interação competitiva e nível de dano econômico de papuã em híbridos de milho

Identifying the competitive ability of corn hybrids and the economic injury level (EIL) caused by Urochloa plantaginea is important for the adoption of integrated management of this weed. This work aims to evaluate the interference and EIL of U. plantaginea infesting corn hybrids. Treatments included the corn hybrids Syngenta Status VIP3, Syngenta SX8394 VIP3, Pioneer P1630H, Pioneer 30F53 YH, and Dow 135021, as well as 12 densities of U. plantaginea for each hybrid. We used a rectangular hyperbolic model to describe the relationship between corn grain productivity loss and the explanatory variables ­ plant density (PD), dry mass (DM) of the aerial parts, ground cover (GC), and leaf area (LA). EIL was determined using grain productivity, control cost, corn price, and herbicide efficacy. The rectangular hyperbolic model provides a satisfactory estimate of grain productivity loss regarding the interference of U. plantaginea in corn culture. The hybrids Pioneer 30F53 YH and Pioneer P1630H presented better competitiveness and higher EIL. Sowing the hybrids Pioneer P1630H, Pioneer 30F53 YH, and Dow 135021 increased EIL, justifying the adoption of control measures for U. plantaginea at higher densities.(AU)

A identificação da habilidade competitiva de híbridos de milho e do nível de dano econômico (NDE) ocasionado pelo papuã (Urochloa plantaginea) torna-se importante para a adoção do manejo integrado dessa planta daninha. Diante disso, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a interferência e o NDE de papuã infestante de híbridos de milho. Os tratamentos foram compostos pelos híbridos de milho Syngenta Status VIP 3, Syngenta SX8394 VIP 3, Pioneer P1630H, Pioneer 30F53 YH e Dow 135021 e 12 densidades de plantas de papuã para cada híbrido. Para descrever a relação entre a perda de produtividade de grãos do milho e as variáveis explicativas densidade de plantas (DP), massa seca da parte aérea (MS), cobertura do solo (CS) e área foliar (AF), usou-se o modelo da hipérbole retangular. A determinação do NDE foi efetuada usando-se a produtividade de grãos, custo de controle, preço do milho e eficiência do herbicida. O modelo da hipérbole retangular estima de modo satisfatório as perdas de produtividade de grãos em função da interferência do papuã na cultura do milho. Os híbridos Pionner 30F53 YH e Pionner P1630H apresentaram melhor competitividade e os maiores NDEs. A semeadura dos híbridos Pioneer P1630H, Pioneer 30F53 YH e Dow 135021 aumenta o NDE, justificando a adoção de medidas de controle em densidades mais elevadas.(AU)

Métodos de controle de plantas daninhas no cafeeiro afetam os atributos químicos do solo / Effects of weed control methods on coffee crop on soil chemical attributes

Nos ecossistemas agrícolas sob cafeeiro, nos quais o manejo do solo se resume, basicamente, à aplicação de corretivos, fertilizantes e controle de plantas daninhas, faz com que alternativas de manejo que preservam ou aumentam os teores de matéria orgânica no solo, a exemplo de alguns métodos de controle de plantas daninhas, sejam consideradas, quando se busca a sustentabilidade da cultura. Neste estudo o objetivo foi avaliar o efeito de alguns métodos comumente utilizadas na cultura do cafeeiro sobre os atributos químicos de um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico sob cafeeiro, durante 15 anos. Os tratamentos avaliados consistiram de sete métodos de controle, envolvendo o uso de roçadora (RC), grade (GR), enxada rotativa (ER), herbicida de pré-emergência (HPRE), herbicida de pós-emergência (HPOS), capina manual (CM) e uma testemunha sem capina (TEST). Foram determinados, nas profundidades de 0-0,15m e 0,15-0,30m, os teores de P, K+, Ca2+ + Mg2+, soma de bases (SB), saturação por bases (V), CTC efetiva (t) e potencial (T). Os resultados mostraram que o tratamento sem capina (TEST) influenciou, positivamente, os teores de P, K+, Ca2+ + Mg2+, valores de CTC efetiva, potencial e V, enquanto o HPRE exerceu um efeito contrário, ou seja, de redução nos valores das variáveis analisadas. Demais métodos RC, GR, ER, HPOS e CM apresentam um comportamento intermediário entre os métodos TEST e HPRE sobre as condições de fertilidade do solo.

In agricultural ecosystems under coffee cultivation, soil management is based on liming, fertilizers and weed control. Alternatives that preserve or increase soil organic matter content are considered when the sustainability is the goal. This study was conducted to evaluate the chemical attributes of a dystroferric Red Latosol (Oxisols) under coffee cultivation submitted to 15 years of weed control methods. Seven interrows coffee plant weed control methods were used; a mower (RC), tanden disk harrow (GR), rotative hoe (ER), pre-emergence herbicide (HPRE), post-emergence herbicide (HPOS), hand hoe (CM) and no interrows control (TEST). The P, K+, Ca2++ Mg2+, sum of bases (SB), base saturation (V), effective (t) and potential (T) cation exchange capacity (CEC) were determined in soil depth from 0-0.15m and 0.15-0.30m. TEST treatment affected positively the P, K+, Ca2+ + Mg2+ content, and effective and potential CEC and V values, while the HR inversely reduced analyzed variable values. Others interrows methods RC, GR, ER, HPOS e CM presented an intermediary conduct among the TEST and HPRE methods on soil fertility.