Survival on railway tracks of Geranium robertianum—a glyphosate-tolerant plant
Geranium robertianum is a herbaceous plant that prefers shady and fertile forest habitats. However, it also occurs on railway tracks, where there are difficult conditions for plant growth and regular herbicide spraying (in high concentrations, twice a year). One of the most commonly used herbicides...
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Published in | Ecotoxicology (London) Vol. 30; no. 6; pp. 1186 - 1202 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
New York
Springer US
01.08.2021
Springer Springer Nature B.V |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Geranium robertianum
is a herbaceous plant that prefers shady and fertile forest habitats. However, it also occurs on railway tracks, where there are difficult conditions for plant growth and regular herbicide spraying (in high concentrations, twice a year). One of the most commonly used herbicides in railway areas is glyphosate. The effect of the glyphosate on the
G. robertianum
plants found on railway tracks and in nearby forests in north-eastern Poland was checked. The aim of the study was to explain how
G. robertianum
can survive on railway tracks despite spraying with the glyphosate. Increased tolerance to the glyphosate of the
G. robertianum
plants from track populations was demonstrated compared to the plants from forest populations that had not previously been in contact with the herbicide. After 35 days after treatment with the herbicide, 75% of the plants from the observed forest populations withered, while only 38% did from the track populations. Ultrastructure of plant leaf cells from forest populations was strongly disturbed, which was not observed in plants from track populations. It was also shown that plants from track populations accumulated more glyphosate and AMPA in their tissues than plants from forest populations. The obtained results indicate that long-term use of herbicides may cause formation of biotypes of plants resistant to a given herbicide. This fact explains the possibility of
G. robertianum
occurring on railway tracks, despite spraying with the glyphosate. It is also a manifestation of microevolutionary processes. |
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ISSN: | 0963-9292 1573-3017 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s10646-021-02430-5 |