Effects of Glyphosate on Chloroplast Ultrastructure of Quackgrass Mesophyll Cells

Abstract

Phytotoxicity of glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine), applied at 0, 0.56, 1.12, 1.68, 2.24 and 4.49 kg ai/ha to uniform, naturally growing quackgrass, [Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.] plants, was studied with the electron microscope. Visible damage (yellowing of the leaves) to the plants was observed at the 2.24 and 4.49 kg ai/ha dosage rates within 72 hr. Similar damage became evident 120 hr after treatment at the 0.56 to 1.68 dosages. Leaf discs (1 mm in diameter) were harvested at 24, 48, 96, and 192 hr and prepared for electron microscopy by standard techniques. Cellular damage could be detected at all dosage rates as early as 24 hr after treatment. The type of damage observed was partial to complete disruption of the chloroplast envelope, and swelling of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) with a subsequent formation of vesicles. With loss of integrity of the envelope, the chloroplast became completely disrupted with increased time. Other organelles within the cell were also destroyed.