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Comparative Effects of Technical-Grade and a Commercial Formulation of Glyphosate on the Pigment Content of Periphytic Algae

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Abstract

We investigated the potentially different effects of one of the most commonly used glyphosate formulations in Argentina, Glifosato Atanor®, and the technical-grade glyphosate on the pigment content, as biomass indicators of the algal fraction in a freshwater periphytic community. A laboratory bioassay was carried out in 250-ml beakers. Two treatments were used: technical-grade glyphosate acid and Glifosato Atanor® (isopropylamine salt of glyphosate 48 % w/v), which were at a concentration of 3 mg active ingredient per liter. Treatments and the control (without herbicide) were replicated in triplicate. The concentrations of chlorophyll a and b and carotenes were determined at 0, 2, 6, 10, 24, 48, 96 and 192 h after herbicide addition. A significant increase in pigment content was observed for both herbicides after a 2-day exposure. Moreover, the formulation had little or no effect compared to the active ingredient, suggesting that the additives of Glifosato Atanor® may not enhance glyphosate toxicity.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Eugenia Di Fiori for field assistance and to the Associated Editor of the Journal for improving the manuscript. This work was supported by ANPCyT (PICT 2010-0908) and UBACyT O1/W550.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, IEGEBA UBA-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    María S. Vera & Haydée N. Pizarro

  2. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, IBBEA UBA-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Ángela B. Juárez

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  1. María S. Vera
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  2. Ángela B. Juárez
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  3. Haydée N. Pizarro
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Correspondence to María S. Vera.

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Vera, M.S., Juárez, Á.B. & Pizarro, H.N. Comparative Effects of Technical-Grade and a Commercial Formulation of Glyphosate on the Pigment Content of Periphytic Algae. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 93, 399–404 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1355-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1355-x

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