title: Using a toxicity test with Ruppia maritima (Linnaeus) to assess the effects of Roundup.
abstract: Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto's broad-spectrum herbicide Roundup, consists of one of the most used pesticides worldwide, but its effects on the marine flora are still not well understood. Were examined Roundup toxic effects on Ruppia maritima specimens collected from Jansen Lagoon (São Luís, MA, Brazil) and acclimatized under laboratory conditions. The numbers of new and dead leaves, the root and leaf length, the chlorophyll a content, and the weight of R. maritima branches were determined before and after exposure to different Roundup concentrations for seven days. High concentrations caused a significant lethal effect. In addition, significant changes were observed in the wet and dry weights, the number and length of the leaves, and the chlorophyll a content. Leaf elongation was observed in the branches exposed to low concentrations, and this change was likely activated as a compensatory mechanism. The results indicate that high concentrations of this herbicide may compromise estuarine flora.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Av. Dos Portugueses, 1966, Campus do Bacanga, CEP 65080-805 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline de Jesus Veloso
authors.initials: Ade J
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Av. Itália km 8, Campus Carreiros, CEP 96201-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ioni Gonçalves
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Colares
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Tecnologia Química, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Av. Dos Portugueses, 1966, Campus do Bacanga, CEP 65080-805 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Teresa Cristina Rodrigues dos Santos
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Av. Dos Portugueses, 1966, Campus do Bacanga, CEP 65080-805 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Valerio Jansen
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Cutrim
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oceanografia e Limnologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Av. Dos Portugueses, 1966, Campus do Bacanga, CEP 65080-805 São Luís, MA, Brazil. Electronic address: luvizottosantos@ufma.br.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luvizotto-Santos
mesh_terms: D035961:Alismatales / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects; D001938:Brazil; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D005998:Glycine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods; D000097797:Glyphosate
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D005998:Glycine; D006540:Herbicides; D000097797:Glyphosate
keywords: Ecotoxicology; Glyphosate; Halophyta