Herbicides may threaten advances in biological control of diseases and pests.

Advances in agriculture include integrated methods of controlling pests, diseases, and weeds with biocontrollers, which are constantly increasing, along with herbicides. The objective is to present a systematic review of the main reports of herbicide effects on non-target organisms used in applied biological control and those naturally occurring in the ecosystems controlling pests. The categories were divided into predatory and parasitoid arthropods. Three hundred and fifty reports were analyzed, being 58.3% with parasitoids and 41.7% with predators. Lethal or sublethal effects of herbicides on reproduction, predation, genotoxicity, and abundance of biological control organisms have been reported. Two hundred and four reports of the impact of herbicides on parasitoids were analyzed. The largest number of reports was with parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma, with wide use in managing pests of the herbicide-tolerant transgenic plants. Most tests evaluating effects on parasitism, emergence, and mortality of natural enemies subjected to herbicides are with parasitoids of Lepidoptera eggs with a high diversity and use in managing these pests in different crops. Additive and synergistic effects of molecules increase the risks of herbicide mixtures. Herbicide use for weed management must integrate other control methods, as the chemical can impact natural enemies, reducing the biological control of pests.

Phytoremediation: A green and low-cost technology to remediate herbicides in the environment.

Pesticide dependence is one of the main disadvantages of agriculture. Despite the advances in biological control and integrated management of plant pests and diseases in recent years, herbicides are still essential for weed control and constitute the main class of pesticides worldwide. Herbicide residues in water, soil, air, and non-target organisms are among the biggest agricultural and environmental sustainability obstacles. Therefore, we suggest an environmentally viable alternative to reduce the harmful effects of herbicide residues, a technology called phytoremediation. Remediating plants were grouped into herbaceous, arboreal, and aquatic macrophytes. Phytoremediation can reduce the loss of at least 50% of all herbicide residues to the environment. Among the herbaceous species reported as phytoremediators of herbicides, the Fabaceae family was mentioned in more than 50% of reports. This family is also among the main species of trees reported. Regarding the most reported groups of herbicides, it is observed that most of them, regardless of the group of plants, are triazines. Processes such as extraction or accumulation are the best known and reported for most herbicides. The phytoremediation may be effective against chronic or unknown herbicide toxicity. This tool can be included in proposals for management plans and specific legislation in countries, guaranteeing public policies to maintain environmental quality.

Sensibility, multiple tolerance and degradation capacity of forest species to sequential contamination of herbicides in groundwaters.

Herbicides have already reported environmental contamination in several countries with intense agricultural activity. The transport of these molecules due to leaching and surface runoff has frequently caused contamination of rivers, groundwater and soil in non-agricultural areas. Thereby, we propose to investigate the sensitivity and phytoremediation capacity of 5 native Cerrado species to sequential exposure to 2,4-D, atrazine, diuron and hexazinone. We hypothesized that species have different sensitivity levels to sequential exposure to these herbicides absorbed from contaminated simulated groundwater model. The objectives of this work were: i) to determine the sensitivity of native cerrado species by sequential exposure to 2,4-D, atrazine, diuron and hexazinone via contaminated simulated groundwater model; ii) to evaluate the presence and degradation capacity of these herbicides in the soil and water leached by tolerant species. Some species showed high phytoremediation potential for groundwater already contaminated with 2,4-D, atrazine, diuron and hexazinone. S. macranthera and C. antiphilitica are tolerant and reduce the concentration of herbicides in simulated groundwater model. Among these species, C. antiphilitica reduces the concentration of all herbicides, suggesting greater adaptability to compose decontamination strategies in areas close to agricultural systems that use 2,4-D herbicides, atrazine, diuron and hexazinone. Also, our results show that herbicides can act as a selection factor for Cerrado forest species, however, two species can mitigate the effects of contamination due to their ability to degrade herbicides.

Morphoanatomical injuries in Pistia stratiotes L. (Araceae) as a result of exposure to clomazone in water.

Contamination of water sources due to herbicide is of great concern. Clomazone is a pesticide with a high contamination potential which could possibility lixiviate to water streams. Changes caused by residual herbicide include flora modifications which are generally detrimental for some species. The lack of morphological studies performed in aquatic plants exposed to herbicide-contaminated environments has encouraged the development of our research. For the first time, we present a study that aimed to evaluate leaf injuries visible to the naked eye as well as microscopical effects which may be caused by clomazone on Pistia stratiotes. Pistia stratiotes was subjected to five concentrations of clomazone. Our analysis showed leaf injuries, especially after 15 days of clomazone application. Hormesis was observed when the water lettuce was subjected to the lower concentrations. Total leaf area showed increase following by reduction while injured until reaching the highest concentration. Although the concentrations of clomazone tested in our study are not lethal to water lettuce, such herbicide have still caused morphoanatomical damages on leaves which advocates for the use of P. stratiotes as a bioindicator of the presence of herbicides such as clomazone in water.

Phytoremediation by Eremanthus crotonoides and Inga striata decay atrazine and clomazone residues in the soil.

The atrazine and clomazone molecules have potential to contaminate environments, especially water resources. Phytoremediation decontamination can prevent or reduce the quantity of these products reaching watercourses. The objective was to evaluate the remedial potential and the physiological sensitivity of Eremanthus crotonoides (DC.) Sch. Bip and Inga striata Benth to atrazine and clomazone in soils contaminated with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 times the recommended commercial dose of these herbicides. The photosynthesis, CO2 consumed stomatal conductance and transpiration of E. crotonoides and I. striata, in soils contaminated with atrazine and clomazone, were evaluated. The herbicide residues were detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) 30 days after the last herbicide application. The photosynthesis rate and CO2 consumed by E. crotonoides and I. striata were lower in soils contaminated by atrazine and clomazone. Inga striata had lower stomatal conductance and transpiration in soil contaminated with clomazone. Eremanyhus crotonoides and I. striata reduced the residues of these herbicides. The atrazine and clomazone reduced the physiological variables of E. crotonoides and I. striata. These plants can be used to recover areas with residues of these herbicides, acting as filters that will decrease the amount of herbicides that would reach the watercourses.

Tolerance to the herbicide clomazone and potential for changes of forest species / Uso de espécies florestais para diminuição do resíduo de clomazone no ambiente

Clomazone has excelled among Brazilian non-target-site herbicides with high environmental impact. Its high solubility in water can result in leaching, contaminating groundwater and watercourses with possible riparian forest degradation. This situation can be mitigated by phytoremediation process. This study aimed to identify tree species tolerant to clomazone aiming to use them in bioremediation programs. Twelve forest species were evaluated: Inga marginata Willd, Handroanthus serratifolius (A.H. Gentry) S. Grose, Jacaranda puberula Chan, Cedrela fissilis Vell, Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess, Psidium myrsinoides Berg, Tibouchina granulosa Cogn, Caesalpinia ferrea Mart ex. Tul, Caesalpinia pluviosa DC, Terminalia argentea Mart & Zucc, Schinopsis brasiliensis Eng and Schizolobium parahyba (Vell). The statistical analysis was performed in a completely randomized block design with four replications. Three clomazone applications were made each 20 days (60, 80 and 100 days after planting); each application was equivalent to one-half of the recommended rate (2.0 L ha-1). The evaluated parameters were plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area and dry biomass. The forest species survived the clomazone application; and I. marginata, C. ferrea and S. brasiliensis showed increased tolerance to this herbicide, demonstrating potential for phytoremediation of areas contaminated by clomazone.

Entre os herbicidas com elevado impacto ambiental em sítios não alvo no Brasil, o clomazone tem se destacado. A alta solubilidade desse herbicida em água pode resultar em lixiviação, ocasionando contaminação de mananciais de água subterrânea e cursos d'água, com possível degradação de matas ciliares. Esta circunstância pode ser mitigada por meio de processos de fitorremediação. Este trabalho objetivou identificar espécies arbóreas tolerantes ao clomazone visando utiliza-las em programas de biorremediação. Foram avaliadas doze espécies florestais: Inga marginata Willd, Handroanthus serratifolius (A.H. Gentry) S.Grose, Jacaranda puberula Chan, Cedrela fissilis Vell, Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess, Psidium myrsinoides Berg, Tibouchina granulosa Cogn, Caesalpinia ferrea Mart ex. Tul, Caesalpinia pluviosa DC, Terminalia argentea Mart & Zucc, Schinopsis brasiliensis Eng e Schizolobium parahyba (Vell) Blake. Foi utilizado o delineamento em blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Foram feitas 3 aplicações do herbicida clomazone com intervalos de 20 dias (aos 60, 80 e 100 dias após o plantio), cada aplicação foi correspondente a metade da dose comercial de 2.0 L ha-1. Foram avaliados a altura da planta, o diâmetro do caule, o número de folhas, a área foliar e o acúmulo de biomassa seca. Constatou-se que todas as espécies sobreviveram à aplicação de clomazone, contudo I. marginata, C. ferrea e S. brasiliensis apresentaram maior tolerância ao herbicida, demonstrando potencial para o uso em programas de fitorremediação de áreas contaminadas pelo clomazone.