| The morphological, physiological and ecological traits of native and crop species were evaluated to assess the influence of plant traits on the efficacy of foliar applied herbicides. Traits observed included stomata parameters, trichome density, wax load and various leaf physiological traits. Overall, relative growth rate and the leaf area ratio were seen to be the best estimates for sensitivity, while stomata parameters were overall the least reliable predictor of herbicidal efficacy. Arabidopsis mutants with altered leaf traits were tested for the effect of separate traits on glyphosate resistance. Mutants with increased stomata or trichome densities ( tmm1, sdd1, and bsh) showed significant increases in sensitivity to glyphosate, whereas mutants with reduced trichomes were more resistant (glabrous1 and 3). The study demonstrated that although a complex relationship may exist between foliar-applied herbicides and efficacy, these traits still need to be considered for in the range of plant species used in phytotoxicity tests. |
