Influence of light, temperature and humidity on the translocation and activity of glyphosate in Elymus repens (=Agropyron repens)

The effects of light, température and humidity on the performance and translocation of glyphosate in Elymus repens (L.) Gould (=Agropyron repens L. (Beauv.)), during the period of 48 h after treatment, were studied in controlled-environment cabinets. Increases in the levels of all three factors resulted in increases in herbicide performance. In general, these differences were statistically significant at all treatment periods except the longest when almost full control was achieved. The results highlight the important influence of environmental factors on herbicide performance during the short-term, post-spraying period. The application of ¹⁴C-labelled glyphosate to the adaxial leaf-sheath surface resulted in very rapid uptake and was used as a method of treating plants to study herbicide translocation under different environmental conditions. Increased light levels and temperatures enhanced basipetal translocation to the crowns and rhizomes but increased humidity had no significant effect with this form of application.