Glyphosate is the herbicide most used worldwide. In cropping systems that rely on repeated applications of glyphosate or cultivate genetically modified soyabean crop, there are numerous cases of glyphosate resistant weeds, including Conyza bonariensis. Differences among competitive ability of Conyza spp. have been found. However, little information is available on the fitness costs related to glyphosate resistance in Conyza bonariensis. We evaluated growth, phenology, and seed viability of glyphosate-resistant (GR) and glyphosate-susceptible (GS) Conyza bonariensis from Brazil, in 2012 (fall/winter) and 2013 (spring/summer). When grown alone, in pots, C. bonariensis GR biotype developed more rapidly than the GS biotype, as evidenced by their earlier bolting, flowering, and seed set. In 2012, GR biotype showed 221.9 cm of plant height compared to 181.1 cm from GS, at the flowering time. In both years, the seed production per plant was superior for GR biotype, showing germination higher than 80% against 66.5% from the GS biotype. Thus, C. bonariensis GR biotype confirmed no fitness penalty also showing characteristics that allow us to infer in superior competitive with the absence of the herbicide. It is important to point out that the biotypes evaluated here have different genetic background and the differences between them may not be fully attributed to the resistance to glyphosate. However, the GR biotype can persist in the environment and outcompete with GS biotypes regardless of further glyphosate selection of pressure.

The introduction of dicamba and 2,4-D-resistant soybean will increase the use of auxin herbicides for management of herbicide-resistant weeds, increasing risk of drift in non-target crops. The field experiment was conducted in 2016/17 to evaluate injury, growth, yield, germination and seeds vigor of soybean effects to simulated drift of 2,4-D and dicamba applied to soybean at the V₃ and R₂ growth stages. To simulate drift, 2,4-D was applied at 0; 5.16; 10.4; 20.8 e 41.5g ae ha^-1 and dicamba at: 0; 3.7; 7.4; 14.9 e 29.8g ae ha^-1. The injury of the dicamba is greater than 2,4-D, and the V₅ stage is more susceptible to both herbicides. The greatest reductions in soybean yield follow the drift of dicamba in R₂ and 2,4-D in V₅. The physiological quality seeds of the soybean is reduced by dicamba and 2,4-D drift at both the V₅ and R₂ stages of the soybean. Soybean is highly sensitive to low rates of 2,4-D and dicamba at the vegetative or reproductive growth stages. Dicamba causes greater negative effects than 2,4-D on soybean. The low rate of 2,4-D and dicamba reduce germination and vigor seed on soybean offspring.

The establishment of commercial crops in succession to winter cover crops that leaves a dense straw layer provides significantly suppression of weeds. The objective of this work was to evaluate the suppressive potential of winter cover crops on weed infestation in maize and its effect on the yield of the maize sown in succession. The experiment was conducted in the 2012/2013 crop season, in an area of the UFSM Campus Frederico Westphalen, State of Rio Grande do Sul. Four different species of cover crops (black oat, ryegrass, vetch and forage radish) were seeded and a fallow area was used as control. Evaluations to quantify the dry matter and chemical desiccation were performed at the full flowering period of the cover crops. Maize was sown in no-tillage system, in succession to the cover crops. The incidence and shoot dry matter of weeds (g 0.25 m-2) was evaluated 15 days after the maize emergence. The main weed species in the area were: morning-glory (Ipomoea grandifolia), wild poinsettia (Euphorbia heterophylla), large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) and purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus). In general, vetch and ryegrass were the winter cover crops that better suppressed the weeds evaluated. The best maize yield was found in the area previously covered with ryegrass, inferring a relation between the cover crop and suppression of weeds and crop yield.

Background: The effect of low rates of glyphosate has been widely studied in several crops. Low nitrogen stress reduces carbohydrate synthesis and we hypothesize that hormesis from glyphosate occurs at low nitrogen availability. Objective: To evaluate the effects of glyphosate hormesis at different levels of nitrogen on the growth and yield of white oat. Methods: A two-factor factorial (2x7) was conducted in field testing at nitrogen levels (50 and 90 kg ha-1) and low rates of glyphosate rates (0 - 180 g a.e. ha-1). The glyphosate was applied at the second node already formed. The growth and yield were evaluated. Results: Plant height was not affected by the nitrogen levels. A low rate of glyphosate induced a plant height increase up of around 10%, but the stimulus was no maintained over in the time. Glyphosate hormesis had a greater effect on dry weight under low nitrogen than under high nitrogen conditions. The glyphosate provided a 43% increase in dry weight at a low nitrogen level when applied at rates consistent with a 4.1% field rate. Glyphosate hormesis increased the yield by approximately 30%, and the yield was higher yield under low nitrogen conditions. Conclusions: The plant height stimulus from low doses of glyphosate was not sustained over time. Glyphosate hormesis stimulus persisted and culminated in an increase in dry weight and grain yield. The hormesis effect on dry weight and yield is more pronounced under lower nitrogen availability.

Chlorophylls and carotenoids are the main photosynthetic pigment in plants. In the weeds, the greatest amount of photosynthetic pigments can result in high competitiveness of the species. The aim of this study was to quantify the content of photosynthetic pigments in biotypes of fleabane (Conyza bonariensis) susceptible and resistant to glyphosate, by two different methods, as well as a correlation between chlorophyll content obtained by portable and classical methodology (extractable chlorophyll). An experiment was conducted in greenhouse and laboratory, 2 x 5 factorial scheme, where factor A was equivalent to biotypes of fleabane (resistant and susceptible to glyphosate) and factor B to developmental stages plants (rosette vegetative I, II and III and reproduction). At all stages of development, fleabane plants were evaluated with the portable determiner (chlorophyll content) and then the same leaves were subjected to classical methodology laboratory (extractable pigments). The resistant biotype of fleabane showed higher contents of chlorophyll a, b, and total carotenoids, inferring a greater competitive potential regarding the susceptible population to the herbicide. The portable determiner of chlorophyll showed high correlation with the classical method of determination of photosynthetic pigments, and can thus be used to accurately assess this, saving time and reagents.

Alterações na qualidade da radiação luminosa causadas pela presença de "plantas vizinhas" podem desencadear uma série de respostas morfológicas das espécies de interesse. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do crescimento de plântulas de trigo, azevém (Lolium multiflorum) e nabo (Raphanus sativus), em competição nos estádios iniciais de desenvolvimento. Foram realizados três experimentos em casa de vegetação, em delineamento de blocos casualizados com quatro repetições. No primeiro experimento, avaliou-se o crescimento do trigo (cv. Fundacep Cristalino) em competição com azevém, nabo ou trigo (cv. BRS Guamirim). No segundo, a espécie estudada foi o azevém sob competição com plantas de trigo (cv. Fundacep Cristalino) e nabo e, no terceiro, o nabo em competição inicial com plantas de trigo (cv. Fundacep Cristalino) e azevém. Em todos os experimentos, foi adicionado tratamento em que a planta principal cresceu livre da interferência inicial. Aos 15 dias após a semeadura, as plantas foram submetidas às avaliações de estatura de planta, comprimento do sistema radicular, diâmetro de caule e contagem do número de raízes emitidas. A estatura de planta do trigo foi 36% maior quando cultivado em competição com o azevém. O azevém apresentou incremento de 172% na MSPA quando competindo com o nabo, em comparação à testemunha sem competidores. Conclui-se que a competição inicial com base na radiação luminosa, uma vez que não houve limitação de água e nutrientes, altera as características morfofisiológicas de plântulas de trigo cv. Fundacep Cristalino, azevém e nabo, independentemente da espécie competidora em questão.