USE OF GLYPHOSATE AND RESISTANT TRANSGENIC CROPS

Abstract

Glyphosate is a non-selective broad-spectrum systemic herbicide used
to eliminate annual and perennial grasses, annual broadleaf weeds and
woody species in agricultural, livestock, forestry and other systems. In
susceptible plants, the synthesis of various metabolic intermediaries
is affected, among them aromatic amino acids (AA), limiting protein
synthesis. It is the herbicide with the highest sales volume worldwide,
especially in developed countries, where its use has been enhanced
by the use of resistant crops known as Roundup Ready or RR. In this
type of crops, weed control depends almost exclusively on glyphosate,
which has created resistance in some weeds, increasing the application
rates. The higher application of glyphosate to weeds subjects plants
to a higher selection pressure and eventually results in the creation
of populations with greater resistance to the herbicide. Although only
plants have the metabolic pathway of shikimic acid for the synthesis
of aromatic AA, damage to microorganisms and animals has been
reported, which has been attributed to the active ingredient, its
metabolites or the consumption of products or derivatives of resistant
crops. Minimizing the damage and risks from the use of glyphosate
depends, as with other herbicides, on its management, including
following the indications for use and using other herbicides with
different modes of action; it is also important to use other control
methods, even considering crop rotation.
Keywords: Herbicides, glyphosate, herbicide resistance, Roundup
Ready (RR) crops.