title: Exposure to Asulox inhibits the growth of mosses.
abstract: Asulox is a herbicide used to control bracken. Its effects on mosses were investigated to ascertain whether exposure proved as detrimental as found in parallel studies on pteridophytes. Mature gametophytes of 18 mosses were exposed to a range of concentrations of Asulox under standard conditions and the effects on growth monitored. Plants were cut to a standard length, exposed to Asulox solution for 24 h, grown for 3 weeks and total elongation (main stem and branches) measured. EC50 values were calculated and species ranked according to sensitivity. The effects of exposure on total elongation were compared with those on main stem elongation alone. Under the conditions tested, the total elongation of all species was inhibited after exposure to Asulox. The amount of elongation observed after exposure was different for different species and inhibition of elongation occurred at different exposure concentrations. A single regression equation was not adequate to describe the dose response curves of all species tested. An ability to produce secondary branches may confer increased tolerance to Asulox exposure. It is concluded that mosses suffer detrimental effects after exposure to Asulox at concentrations similar to those that affect fern gametophytes such as bracken.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, 3.614 Stopford Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Rowntree
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Lawton
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Rumsey
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sheffield
mesh_terms: D044002:Bryophyta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D002219:Carbamates / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004463:Ecology; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity; D008954:Models, Biological; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D032498:Pteridium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013045:Species Specificity; D044003:Sphagnopsida / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D002219:Carbamates; D006540:Herbicides; C010036:asulam