Effects of Trifluralin on Growth, Nodulation, and Anatomy of Soybeans

Abstract

Effects ofα,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine (trifluralin) rate and placement in soil on growth and anatomy of soybeans (Glycine max(L.) Merr.) were studied in greenhouses. In 7-week-old plants, trifluralin caused pronounced changes in number and organization of palisade cells in leaves. In fourth internodes, xylem elements of treated plants were less organized and walls of pericycle fibers were extremely thick compared to those of untreated plants. There was starch accumulation in nodules and in xylem elements of the upper root, and binucleate and trinucleate cells were present in tips of tap and lateral roots of treated plants. The effects were more pronounced as rate of trifluralin was increased from 0.36 to 0.74 and to 1.1 kg/ha and when trifluralin was incorporated into the 5 to 15-cm depth rather than the top 5 cm of soil. However, occlusions of xylem vessels in lateral and tap roots were most pronounced at 0.74 kg/ha. Plant topgrowth was reduced more when trifluralin was incorporated into the bottom 10 cm of soil, but root growth inhibition was not affected by trifluralin placement. Trifluralin reduced nodulation of soybeans and seemed to inhibit utilization of cotyledonary reserves and redistribution of organic and mineral constituents of unifoliolate leaves.