Understanding Glyphosate,

Glyphosate-resistance
and
Nutrient-Disease
Interactions
Don M. Huber
Emeritus Professor of Plant Pathology
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

9322 Big Foot Road, Melba, ID 83641

 Understanding Glyphosate, Nutrition,
and Disease Interactions
• Background
• Understanding glyphosate
- What it is
- How it works “All flesh is grass”
Isaiah 40:6, 800 BC
• Understanding glyphosate-resistance
- What it is and what it doesn’t do
• Recognizing the interactions
- Symptoms - nutrition, disease
• What to do for more effective use of the technology
• The broad picture
 The Plant Factory
Photosynthesis and N-fixation

Mn+2 N, P, Ca, Fe, Ni, B, Cu, Mo, Zn

6 CO2 + 12 H2O Chloroplast C6H12O6 + 6 O2
Mg+2

The Harvest is SUGAR

and PROTEIN
N2
 NUTRIENT BALANCE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE EACH
ELEMENT FUNCTIONS AS PART OF A DELICATELY
BALANCED, INTERDEPENDENT SYSTEM WITH THE
PLANT’S GENETICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Ni Cu, Zn, B, Mo, I

N
P K
“Hidden Hunger”
“Law of the minimum”

Nutrient BALANCE may be a matter of root function!

“The roots may be the root of the problem!”
“The weak link may be underground!”
The Importance of Reducing Stresses

Nutrition
Physiology
Genetic Management
Potential - Environment = Harvest
Diseases
Pests

Potential - Stresses = Yield

There is no free lunch!
 Interacting Factors Determining
Nutrient Availability and Disease Severity
Vigor, Stage of Growth, Root Exudates
Resistance PLANT
Susceptibility

TIME ABIOTIC
PATHOGEN ENVIRONMENT
Population Nutrients
Virulence Moisture
Activity Temperature
pH (redox potential)
Density, gases
Ag Chemicals
BIOTIC ENVIRONMENT
Antagonists, Synergists
Oxidizers, Reducers
Competitors, Mineralizers
[Cu, Fe, K, Mn, N, S, Zn]
 Changes in Agricultural Practices
Change the Interactions
Crop Sequence Tillage/No-till Fertilization
Biotic environment Residue break down Rate/form
Nutrition Soil density/aeration Time applied
Nitrification Pathogen survival Source/assoc. ions
Organic matter Nutrient distribution Inorganic
Denitrification Organic
Herbicide usage Deficient Sufficient
Effect of crop residue on
nitrification Excess
% NO3 Crop sequence effect on Mn+2
100 Alfalfa Metabolism of different
Fallow Trachypogan Rotation Extractable Mn
80 Soya Wheat Brachiaria Continuous Corn 130 ppm forms of nitrogen
Pea Oat Conifers
60 Corn
Continuous soybeans 64 pp,
Barley
Soybean, wheat, corn 91 ppm
40
Wheat, corn, soybean 79 ppm
20
Fall chissel 126 ppm
0 No-till 80 ppm
0 2 4 6 8
Weeks
 Physiologic Roles of Manganese
Mn CHO
Photosynthesis Glyphosate (EPSPS)
Mn
Glycolysis (energy reactions)
Shikimic Acid
Carbohydrate, hormone & Mn Root Growth
Amino Acid Synthesis Amino Acids
Mn
Cyanogenic Glycosides
Phenylalanine Mn
ammonia-lyase

COUMARINS LIGNINS FLAVANOIDS =

Defense materials
“Lignituber” formed
in response to cell
Penetration.
Wheat
Triticale
(After Skou, 1975)
 Take-all and
Populations of
Mn-oxidizing
Rhizosphere Bacteria

Cattle
dung
(manure)

Mn Availability & Biological Activity

pH: 5.2 7.8
Biological
Mn form: Mn2+ Activity Mn+4
Available: Yes No
 Factors Affecting N Form, Mn Availability
and Severity of Some Diseases*
Soil Factor or Effect on:
Cultural Practice Nitrification Mn Availability Disease Severity
Severit
Low Soil pH Decrease Increase Decrease
Green Manures(some) Decrease Increase Decrease
Ammonium Fertilizers Decrease Increase Decrease
Irrigation (some) Decrease Increase Decrease
Firm Seed bed Decrease Increase Decrease
Nitrification Inhibitors Decrease Increase Decrease
Soil Fumigation Decrease Increase Decrease
Metal Sulfides Decrease Increase Decrease
Glyphosate ---- Decrease Increase
High Soil pH Increase Decrease Increase
Lime Increase Decrease Increase
Nitrate Fertilizers ---- Decrease Increase
Manure Increase Decrease Increase
Low Soil Moisture Increase Decrease Increase
Loose Seed bed Increase Decrease Increase
*Potato scab, Rice blast, Take-all, Phymatotrichum root rot, Corn stalk rot
 Effect of Copper on Two Wheat Diseases
Effect of soil-applied copper on
powdery mildew of wheat*
50

40
-Cu

Disease Index
30

20 +Cu
Ergot sclerotia in wheat
10
Grain yield Ergot
Treatment (bu/a) per acre 0
3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 21
Check 13.3 17,743 Time
Time(weeks
(weeks after
afteremergence)
emergence)
10 kg/ha Cu 42.0 2,420 *After Graham and Webb, 1991
After Evans, 2004
 Genetics of the Plant
Normal corn
Glyphosate
resistant corn
Normal soybean
Rye Wheat  Stage of Glyphosate
resistant soybean
growth
100

Crop species  Age

 Health
50
 Environment

0
Effect of the glyphosate
Mn efficient Mn inefficient resistance gene on Mn
Crop cultivar uptake efficiency
 Glyphosate has Changed Agriculture for 30+Years:
Understanding Characteristics of Glyphosate
• A strong chemical chelator Chelating stability constants
of glyphosate
Small amount needed [ML] [MHL] [ML2]
Metal ion [M][L] [M][H][L] [M][L2]
Tightly binds mineral elements Mg2+ 3.31 12.12 5.47
Ca2+ 3.25 11.48 5.87
Immobilizes Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn Mn2+ 5.47 12.30 7.80
Fe2+ 6.87 12.79 11.18
• Non-specific herbicidal effect Cu2+ 11.93 15.85 16.02
Fe3+ 16.09 17.63 23.00
• Tank mix impairs herbicidal activity
Glyphosate Immobilization of
Manganese in Soybean

Glyphosate + Zn
Glyphosate tank mix
 Effect of Time of Mn Application
on Tissue Mn

PPM Mn
35
INDIANA Huber et al PPM Mn MINNESOTA R. Severson
250
30
200
25
20 150

15 100
10
50
5
0 0
None 4 days Same 4 days 9 days 0 5 10 15 20
before time after after
Time Mn Applied Relative to Days Mn applied after glyphosate
Glyphosate
 Effect of Residual/’drift’ Glyphosate on Percent
Nutrient Uptake and Translocation by Plants
After Eker et al 2006*
Control
+ glyphosate
100

80

60

40

20

0
Fe Mn Zn Fe Mn Zn
Root uptake Translocation to shoot
* 1/40th of recommended herbicidal rate
Reduced Nutrient Efficiency of Isogenic
RR Soybeans (After Zobiole, 2008)

Tissue: Mn Zn
Isoline % %

Normal 100 100

Roundup Ready© 83 53

RR + glyphosate 76 45
Copper, iron, and other essential nutrients
Were also lower in the RR isoline and reduced
further by glyphosate!
After Zobiole et al., 2009
 Effect of Phosphorus Desorption/Remobilization
of Glyphosate in Soil on Nutrient Content
40mg P

- + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +
0 mg P 40 mg P 80 mg P 240 mg P

% of UTC Shikimate (ug/g FW)

4000
100
10 d after glyphosate 3500
90
35 d after glyphosate
80 3000
70 2500
60
50 2000
40 1500
30 1000
20
500
10
0 0
UTC Ca Fe K Mn P Zn 0 40 80 240
Nutrient P (mg)
After Bott, 2009
Mn Oxidation/Reduction Fungal Mn oxidation
in Soybean in soil
Rhizosphere Soil (increased virulence)
Glyphosate Control Gaeumannomyces graminis
(oxidized) (Reduced)

After Roemheld, 2005

Manganese Oxidation in Soybean Rhizosphere

 In soybean rhizosphere soil (3 wks after glyphosate applied):
Mn Reducing Organisms Oxidizing Organisms
Control (no glyphosate) 7,250* 750
+ Glyphosate 740 13,250
*Colonies per gram of soil
 Microbiocidal Activity of Glyphosate
% of control
Fusarium % change Label rate
500 100 + Fusarium root
colonization
400 80 - Pseudomonads
- Mn-red:Mn-oxid.
300 60 - IAA Producers

200 40

100 20

0 0
0 600 1200 2400
Glyphosate rate (g a.e./ha)

After Zobiole et al., 2010

 What’s Special About Glyphosate Tolerance?
(Roundup Ready® Genes)
[Greatly expanded usage of glyphosate]
• The technology inserts an alternative EPSPS enzyme
that is not blocked by glyphosate in mature tissue
- There is nothing in the RR plant that operates on
the glyphosate applied to the plant!
- Glyphosate chelation is not selective it immobilizes
Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn
• Reduces nutrient uptake
% uptake
• It is there for the life of 100 Normal
the plant 75 RR
50 Indiana Kansas Michigan Brazil Indiana Brazil
• Can cause a“Yield Drag” 25
0
Soybeans for manganese Corn/Mn Soybeans/Zn
 Effect of Glyphosate on Lignin, AA, Water Use Efficiency,
and Photosynthesis of Glyphosate-Resistant Soybeans
Lignin After Zobiole, 2009
(g/plant) 13 DAT
Full rate at one time umol CO2 m-2 s-1
0.6
Sequential half rate 12 36 DAT
0.5
10
0.4 8
0.3 6
0.2 4
2
0.1
0
0.0 0 600 1200 1800 2400
0 450 675 900 1350 1800
Glyphosate (g a.e./ha) Glyphosate (g a.e./ha)
Amino Acids (g/plant) WUE (ml water/g dry mass)
600
2500 Full rate at one time 550
2000 Sequential half rate 500
1500 450
1000 400
500 350
0.0 300
0 450 675 900 1350 1800 250
0 450 675 900 1350 1800
Glyphosate (g a.e./ha) Glyphosate (g a.e./ha)
Effect of Glyphosate on Nodule Bradyrhizobium

Normal nodule with many bacteria Nodule after foliar glyphosate

After Zobiole et al., 2010
% Mineral Reduction in Tissue of Roundup
Ready® Soybeans Treated with Glyphosate

Plant tissue K Ca Mg Fe Mn Zn Cu

Young leaves 16 40 28 7 29 NS NS

Mature leaves 4 30 34 18 48 30 27

Mature grain +4 26 13 49 45 +30 +18

Reduced:
Yield 26%
Biomass 24% After Cakmak et al, 2009
 Glyphosate Kills Plants by Increasing
Disease Susceptibility
Herbicide action is by chelating (immobilizing) Mn for EPSPS, etc.

A
B C
A B
Glyphosate Glyphosate No glyphosate Effect of glyphosate on susceptibility
Sterile soil Field soil Control to anthracnose. A) hypersensitive
response; b) non-limited response
after glyphosate is applied.
After Rahe and Johal, 1988; 1990
 Some Plant Pathogens Affected by Glyphosate
Pathogen Pathogen
Increased: Cercospora spp.
Botryospheara dothidea Marasmius spp.
Corynespora cassicola Monosporascus cannonbalus
Fusarium spp. Myrothecium verucaria
Fusarium avenaceum Phaeomoniella chlamydospora
F. graminearum Phytophthora spp.
F. oxysporum f. sp cubense Pythium spp.
F. oxysporum f.sp (canola) Rhizoctonia solani
F. oxysporum f.sp. glycines Septoria nodorum
F. oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum Thielaviopsis bassicola
Fungal Mn oxidation
F. solani f.sp. glycines Xylella fastidiosa in soil
F. solani f.sp. phaseoli Clavibacter nebraskensis (increased virulence)
F. solani f.sp. Pisi Decreased (obligate pathogens):
Gaeumannomyces graminis Phykopsora pakyrhiza
Magnaporthe grisea Puccinia graminis
(“Emerging” and “reemerging diseases”)

Abiotic: Nutrient deficiency diseases; bark cracking, mouse ear, ‘witches brooms’
 Some Diseases Increased by Glyphosate
Host plant Disease Pathogen
Apple Canker Botryosphaeria dothidea
Banana Panama Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense
Barley Root rot Magnaporthe grisea
Beans Root rot Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli
Bean Damping off Pythium spp.
Bean Root rot Thielaviopsis bassicola
Canola Crown rot Fusarium spp.
Canola Wilt Fusarium oxysporum
Citrus CVC Xylella fastidiosa
Corn Root and Ear rots Fusarium spp.
Cotton Damping off Pythium spp.
Cotton Bunchy top Manganese deficiency
Fusarium scab
Cotton Wilt F. oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum
Grape Black goo Phaeomoniella chlamydospora
Melon Root rot Monosporascus cannonbalus
Soybeans Root rot, Target spot Corynespora cassicola
Soybeans White mold Sclerotina sclerotiorium
Soybeans SDS Fusarium solani f.sp. glycines
Sugar beet Rots, Damping off Rhizoctonia and Fusarium
Sugarcane Decline Marasmius spp.
Tomato Wilt (New) Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. pisi
Various Canker Phytophthora spp.
Weeds Biocontrol Myrothecium verucaria
Wheat Bare patch Rhizoctonia solani
Wheat Glume blotch Septoria spp.
Wheat Root rot Fusarium spp.
Wheat Head scab Fusarium graminearum Take-all root rot
Wheat Take-all Gaeumannomyces graminis
 Impact of Glyphosate on Take-all

Soybean herbicide plot Wheat after soybeans

Transient Mn immobilization
In tissue with glyphosate

After No
Glyphosate Conventional Winter wheat grown afterglyphosate
glyphosate RR soybeans
Impact of Glyphosate on Take-all
Take-all of wheat after glyphosate to RR beans

After glyphosate No glyphosate

 Factors Predisposing to Fusarium Head Scab
(Fusarium spp.; Gibberella zeae)
 Environment was the most important
factor in FHB development in eastern
Saskatchewan, from 1999 to 2002
Number of
 Application of glyphosate glyphosate %
formulations was the most important applications Increase
agronomic factor associated with the previous in head
higher FHB levels in spring wheat three years scab
_______________________________
 Positive association of glyphosate None 00
with FHB was not affected by
environmental conditions as much as 1 to 2 152 ***
that of other agronomic factors…
(Fernandez et al. 2005, Crop Sci. 45: 1908-1916) 3 to 6 295 ***
(Fernandez et al., 2007, Crop Sci. 47:1574-1584) _______________________________
 Mycotoxins in Straw and Grain
 Fusarium spp. act synergistically in causing death of
glyphosate-treated plants
 Glyphosate-induced root colonization by Fusarium spp.
 Toxins (DON, ZEA) produced in crown and translocated to
stem and grain - Well above ‘clinically significant’ levels!
 Toxin concentrations not always correlated with Fusarium
damaged grain (FDG) - [Strobilurin fungicides increase mycotoxins in grain]
 Head must be protected for 18 days (10 days after anthesis)
Deoxynivalenol and Zaeralenone
Concentrations in plant parts
Toxin (ppm) Grain Chaff Straw
Forum
Deoxynivalenol 4.7 16.9 3.5 Proc. Natl. FHB

Zaeralenone 4.4 42.9 55.5 2009, Orlando,

 Impact of Glyphosate on Sugar Beet
Dead AUDPC
5 50
Control
4 Glyphosate 40

3 30

2 20

1 10

0 0
Rhizoctonia Fusarium
B4RR variety B4RR variety

“Precautions need to be taken when certain soil-borne diseases are

present if weed management for sugar beet is to include post-emergence
glyphosate treatments.” Larson et al., 2006
 Early death of wheat
After RR RR soybean
soybean + No
glyphosate glyphosate

Take-all
Glyphosate

Recognizing

Scab
the
Interactions
Soybean

CVC

Control Inoculated Inoculated

+ glyphosate

- + - +
Corynespora root rot Glyphosate Glyphosate
Some SYMPTOMS of Glyphosate Damage
(Sub-herbicidal depending on rate and length of exposure)
 Low vigor, stunting, slow growth
 Leaf chlorosis (yellowing) - complete or between the veins
 Leaf mottling - sometimes with necrotic flecks or spots
 Leaf distortion - small, curling, strap, wrinkling, ‘mouse ear’
 Abnormal stem proliferation (‘witches broom’)
 Bud, fruit abortion
 Retarded regrowth after cutting (alfalfa, perennial plants)
 Lower yields, lower mineral value
 Predisposition to infectious diseases - NUMEROUS!
 Predisposition to insect damage
 Induced abiotic diseases - drought, winter kill, sun scald
 Root stunting, poor growth, inefficient N-fixation and uptake
 Bark cracking after University of Hawaii; Ohio State University
After Roemheld, 2009
Preemergence No Preemergence No
glyphosate glyphosate glyphosate glyphosate

Preemergence
Glyphosate
No glyphosate

5# 5 oz 9# 13 oz
Duration of Glyphosate Damage Symptoms
(depends on amount, exposure duration, plant, nutrient status)
• Transient in highly fertile soils - a few days to weeks
- Rapid immobilization of glyphosate - plant and soil
- Rapid replenishment of immobilized nutrients
- Absence of glyphosate-induced diseases
• Short time - weeks to months in moderately fertile soils
- Time to immobilize glyphosate - in plant and soil
- Time to replenish immobilized nutrients
- Time to restore soil microbial activity
- Desorption of glyphosate chelated in soil and decaying plant tissues
• Long time - months to years
- Persistent and accumulative in perennial plants for life of plant
- Ability to immobilize residual glyphosate - plant and soil
- ‘Desorption’ of immobilized glyphosate in soil and organic matter
- Restoration of soil microbial activity - ‘balance’
 Effect of Planting Delay after Glyphosate
(Residual Glyphosate in Soil)
Winter Wheat

14 days after 2 days after

glyphosate ‘burn-down’ glyphosate ‘burn-down’
Weiss et al., 2008
 Long-term Effect of Glyphosate
Field observations in winter wheat production systems in 2008 & 2009 point to
potential negative side-effects of long-term glyphosate use.

after Roemheld, 2009

Poor Bud Break, Small Leaves, Stem Epinasty
WHY?

Plus Ni (pre bud break)

No Ni

Pecan. Same symptoms from glyphosate

on coffee, blue berries, etc. after B. Wood
 Failure to ‘Bulk’ of Russet Potatoes
Glyphosate How No. % Potatoes
frequency applied growers over 10 oz
None in previous 2 yrs None 5 35.3
1-2 in previous 2 yrs Burndown 17 20.2
Preceding year RR crop 5 5.4
Severely Stunted Soybean With
Severe Root Rot Next to Dead
Rag Weed Plants

WHY?
 Severe disease!
 Late emergence
 Root damage
 Corynespora Root Rot
 An extensive dark brown to black rotting
of small lateral roots
 Generally considered a root “nibbler”
 Severe with glyphosate and especially near
weeds killed by glyphosate Dead ragweed
4-6” 18”
Long, multiseptate spores
Control Inoculated Inoculated
+ glyphosate

Corynespora cassiicola
Increased Disease on Crops in the Rotation
• Beans (P. vulgaris) after RR sugar beets
Fusarium root rot
Rhizoctonia hypocotyl rot
• Alfalfa after RR corn or RR soybeans
Fusarium root and crown rot
Phytophthora root and crown rot
• Wheat after RR canola
Fusarium root and crown rot
Fusarium head scab
• Potatoes after RR corn
Verticillium wilt
Fusarium dry rot
Rhizoctonia stolon canker
Residual Soil & Crop Sequence
Effects of Glyphosate
Severe Verticillium wilt Mild Verticillium
after 1 year of RR corn after wheat (no
(left) Idaho, 2009 Glyphosate, right)

Crop sequence effect on Mn+2

Rotation Extractable Mn
Continuous Corn 130 ppm
Roundup Ready® corn 60 ppm
Continuous soybeans 64 ppm
Soybean, wheat, corn 91 ppm
Wheat, corn, soybean 79 ppm
 Glyphosate Resistant
Weeds
It starts this way > > > > > and > > > > > Develops into this
 Special Considerations in Fertilizing RR Crops
Two factors: 1) Chemical; 2) gene
. Providing nutrient availability for yield and quality
Compensate for reduced plant efficiency
Compensate for reduced soil availability
[Timing and formulation are important]

. Detoxifying residual glyphosate

In meristematic root, stem, flower tissues, etc.
In soil [Ca, Co, Cu, Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn]

Restoring soil microbial activity

Nutrient related (N-fixation, Fe, Mn, Ni, S, Zn, etc.)
Disease control related (nutrition, pathogen antagonists, etc.)
Biological amendment (N-fixers, PGPRs, etc.)

Increasing plant resistance to diseases and toxins

Nutrient-related pathways (Shikimate, AA, CHO, etc.)

. Judicious use of glyphosate

 Yield Response of Roundup Ready®
Soybeans to Micronutrients
Indiana Michigan Kansas Wisconsin
Treatment ---------------Yield (bu/a)-------------------

Untreated 46 24 77 33

Glyphosate only 57 33 65 8

Glyphosate + 75 56 78 19

Micronutrient Mn Mn Mn Fe
 Glyphosate-induced Fe-deficiency chlorosis

+ glyphosate - glyphosate
+ + glyphosate +
seed Fe seed Fe
treatment treatment
Photo:
Interaction of seed-applied Fe and glyphosate application on Fe deficiency N.C.inHansen,
chlorosis Fort
soybeans; Collins,CO
Minnesota, USA

Visual chlorosis score Grain yield

Treatment [1 = green; 5 = yellow] (bu/a)
- Fe + Fe - Fe + Fe
Control (no herbicide) 3.1 2.8 33 56
Glyphosate 3.7 3.3 8 19
Jolley et al., 2004, Soil Sci. and Plant Nutrition 50:973-981
Effect of Glyphosate on Roundup Ready© Corn
Colorado State University, 2007 Response of Roundup Ready©
Mike Bartolo, Sr. Res. Scientist Corn to Zn & Mn, 2007*
NDSU Carrington
% grain Yield % of
Treatment moisture (bu/a) control Treatment Yield (bu/a)

Untreated* 15.6 234 a 100 Glyphosate control 144

Glyphosate** 15.6 195 d 83 Zn seed Treatment 156

Glyphosate 15.6 221 b 94
+ Zn, Mn Foliar applied Zn 158

Glyphosate 15.6 208 c 89 Foliar applied Zn+Mn 173

+ Mn, Zn, Fe, B
*Hand weeded, **1 lb a.i. + 1 pt AMS per acre
Seed + Foliar Zn 175
Notes: UTC = genetic potential (with RR gene)
Soil granular Zn sulfate 167
Glyphosate reduces genetic potential 39 bu/a
Application of high Mn & Zn recovers some * All treatments received glyphosate
genetic potential, lower Mn & Zn recovers less
Poor Boll Retention, Sterile
Locules in Cotton. WHY?

Glyphosate+Mn Glyphosate

Mis-shaped cotton boll

from glyphosate
 Glyphosate & Manganese Effects on Cotton

Untreated Check (conventional herbicide) Glyphosate @ 22 oz/ac plus ammonium sulfate (AMS)

Effect of glyphosate and Manganese

on Cotton Yield (Texas)

Treatment % chlorotic # seed

plants cotton

Conventional herbicide 5 4885

Glyphosate 97 2237

Glyphosate + Mn 2 4693
Glyphosate @ 22 oz/ac plus AMS + Manganese after Ronnie Phillips, 2009
 Detoxifying Glyphosate
 In meristematic/reproductive tissues
Ca, Mn, Si+Mn, Mn+Cu, Zn, Mn+Zn, Ni
Pecan
 In root exudates in soil + Ni

Broadcast: Untreated
Gypsum
In furrow (or stem drench) treatment:
Gypsum (CaSO4)
Manganese
Effect of in-furrow treatments
Ca + Mn on Soybean tissue Mn
Nickel, Zinc Treatment Rainfed Irrigated
Lime 32a 29a
Gypsum 38b 36b
 Characteristics of Citrus Greening
 Cause: Candidatus Liberibacter spp.
Fastidious, phloem-limited bacterium
Produces a biofilm over sieve plate
Produces a Zn ‘transporter’ (chelator?)
Induces severe nutrient deficiency
 Dissemination: Citrus psyllid species, bud wood
 Effect: Vascular plugging
Nutrient deficiency - tissue starvation
Tree decline to death Citrus
“greening”
 Strategy for control (Protect nursery stock):
Reestablish tree nutrient sufficiency and health Malformed, bitter fruit
Change environment for bacterial pathogen
Inhibit virulence of pathogen
Foliar application of glyphosate Accumulation of glyphosate in
meristematic tissues (shoot,
Systemic movement
reproductive, and roots)
throughout the plant
Chelation of micronutrients Translocation of glyphosate from
shoot to root and release
Intensifies stress into the rhizosphere
Accumulation of glyphosate in soil Toxicity to root tips by glyphosate or its
( slow to little degradation) toxic metabolites (e.g. AMPA)

Desorbed by phosphorus Compromise of plant

Residual soil and residue effects defense mechanisms
Glyphosate toxicity to: Promotion of soil-borne organisms:
N-fixing microbes Soilborne pathogens
Bacterial shikimate pathway Nutrient oxidizers (Fe, Mn, N)
Mycorrhizae Microbial nutrient sinks (K, Mg)
Biological control organisms
Earthworms Reduced availability or uptake of essential
PGPR organisms nutrients (Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, Zn)

Schematic of glyphosate interactions in soil

Food and Feed Safety Concerns
 Increased levels of mycotoxins
- Fusarium toxins (DON, NIV, ZEA)
- Aflatoxins
 Allergenic reactions to foreign proteins
 Nutrient deficiency
- Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn
 Gene flow
- Weeds
- Soil microbes Carmen, et al., 2010
- Intestinal microbes Fernandez, et al., 2009
Gasnier, et al., 2009
 Direct toxicity to tissues Heiman, 2010
- Infertility Smith, 2010
Walsh, et al., 2000
- Disease resistance
Watts, 2009
 Effect of the GM “Gene” Proteins in
Corn/Soybeans on Pig Stomachs
After Carman et al., 2010

Non-GMO Feed GMO Feed

Potential Far-Reaching Impact of Glyphosate
Human
Mineral malnourished,
Allergies, Fertility, Disease
MYCOTOXINS
Alzheimer’s, gout, diabetes, viruses

Vegetables, fruits, grains Glyphosate Plants, feed

Lower nutrient minerals Lower nutrient minerals
(Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn) Mn (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn)
Carriers for epiphytes
(E. coli, etc. )
Glyphosate Disease predisposition
(Scab, take-all, CVC)
(Changed epiphytic flora) (Chelation) Mycotoxins, glyphosate

Environment Animals
Biological imbalance Mineral malnourished
N fixation, Mn availability Slow growth, Allergies, Disease
Potassium immobilization MYCOTOXINS
Biological controls Scours, death, BSE, wasting, predisposition
GLYPHOSATE ACCUMULATION
 Conclusions & Recommendations
1. The glyphosate-resistance gene reduces micronutrient uptake
Select cultivars with highest Mn efficiency
2. Application of glyphosate reduced Mn translocation in tissues
Apply foliar micronutrients after glyphosate
3. Glyphosate formulation and nutrient source influence uptake
Select formulations that are compatible for uptake
4. Changes in rhizosphere biology are accumulative
Use cultural practices that minimize glyphosate impact
5. Glyphosate reduces root growth
Detoxifiy glyphosate in roots and rhizosphere
6. Disease severity increases
Use alternate weed control -Minimize glyphosate use
 REMEMBER
1. Nutrition is an integral part of efficient crop production
A. Crop quality and quantity
B. Disease control
2. No nutrient controls all diseases
A. Consider each nutrient-disease-environment interaction
B. Use nutrient form, rate, and time effectively
3. Cultural practices that reduce disease influence nutrition
4. Integrate nutrition and cultural practices for optimum yield
and disease control.
Make Sure You Provide the Food!