Fertiactyl® in mixture with glyphosate decreases herbicide absorption and translocation in coffee seedlings

Abstract

The application of glyphosate to coffee crops can cause injuries to plants. Fertiactyl^® foliar fertilizer reduces injuries when mixed with glyphosate; however, it is important to establish which mechanisms are responsible for this protective action. This study aimed to evaluate the absorption and translocation of glyphosate applied separately and in mixture with Fertiactyl^® in coffee seedlings. Absorption and translocation were performed with ¹⁴C-glyphosate applied separately and in mixture with Fertiactyl^® at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, and 144 hours after application (HAA). Most of the ¹⁴C-glyphosate applied to coffee seedlings was not absorbed. The ¹⁴C-glyphosate applied separately had a higher absorption by coffee seedlings (6.5%) than in a mixture with Fertiactyl^® (2.7%) at 144 HAA. The maximum translocation of the ¹⁴C-glyphosate applied separately was 0.69% at 81.2 HAA and in mixture with Fertiactyl^® was 0.41% at 41.2 HAA. The treated leaves retained a higher percentage of ¹⁴C-glyphosate when applied separately (5.6% at 144 HAA) than in a mixture with Fertiactyl^® (2.2% at 144 HAA). Low translocation (<1%) for the rest of the plant shoots was observed both for the ¹⁴C-glyphosate applied separately and in combination with Fertiactyl^®. Therefore, Fertiactyl^® decreased the absorption and translocation of ¹⁴C-glyphosate in coffee seedlings.

Keywords:

• Phytotoxic effect
• protectors
• Coffea arabica
• radiolabeled herbicide

Acknowledgments

The KCM, JLMN, and RCA thank the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) for the financial support.