Movement and Activity of Glyphosate in Purple Nutsedge

Abstract

Tubers from purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundusL.) plants grown in the greenhouse for 2 to 10 weeks did not germinate after foliar applications of 4 kg/ha glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine). Some tubers from 12- and 24-week-old purple nutsedge plants survived glyphosate application. Translocation of14C-glyphosate from treated purple nutsedge leaves to other plant parts increased from 5% of the amount applied at 1 day to 19% at 4 days after application. Specific activity of14C in tubers was greater than in leaves of plants 2- to 6-week-old. With increasing plant age, specific activity decreased in both tubers and leaves. As purple nutsedge grew older, total14C translocated increased in tubers, and decreased slightly in leaves. Thin layer chromatography showed no evidence of glyphosate metabolism in purple nutsedge.