Photosynthetic parameters in glyphosate‐treated sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.)

Summary Variable fluorescence and carbon dioxide exchange rate (CER) were measured in intact leaves of glyphosate‐treated sugarbeet plants, to investigate rapid effects on photosynthesis. In one experiment, a significant effect on variable fluorescence and CER was found within 8 h after herbicide application. The effect on stomatal conductance was not significant. In a second experiment, the effects of light or dark conditions during herbicide application and 24 h later were evaluated. Under light conditions glyphosate significantly reduced variable fluorescence after 4 h. However under initial conditions of 24 h darkness, followed by alternating 8 h light/8 h dark, the effect was not significant until 44 h after treatment, by which time the plants had received several hours of light. The eflect on variable fluorescence 8 h after herbidde application correlated positively with plant survival 7 days later.