title: Uptake and toxicity of glyphosate in the lichen Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr.
abstract: This study investigated if treatment of the lichen Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr. with glyphosate caused uptake of this herbicide as well as physiological alterations. Samples were treated with Glifene SL®, a common commercial glyphosate-based herbicide, at the lowest recommended doses (3.6g/L) as well as with doses slightly higher than the highest suggested (36 g/L). The results clearly showed glyphosate uptake in X. parietina proportionally to the dose provided. Adverse physiological effects were evident on the photosynthetic apparatus (photosynthetic efficiency, chlorophyll a content, chlorophyll degradation) as well as on the fungal respiration rates and cell membrane integrity (ergosterol content, dehydrogenase activity) already after 24h from treatment, also at the low application dose. It is concluded that lichens are suitable organisms for monitoring unwanted biological effects from the application of glyphosate-based herbicides, as well as for detecting the accumulation of this compound in the biota, thus screening for its environmental fate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via P.A. Mattioli 4, I-53100 Siena, Italy. Electronic address: andrea.vannini@unisi.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vannini
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via P.A. Mattioli 4, I-53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guarnieri
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology and Ecology, P.J. Šafárik University, Manesova 23, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bačkor
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology and Ecology, P.J. Šafárik University, Manesova 23, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bilová
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via P.A. Mattioli 4, I-53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loppi
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000187:drug effects; D001692:Biological Transport; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000378:metabolism; D005998:Glycine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D006540:Herbicides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D008011:Lichens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D000097797:Glyphosate
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D004875:Ergosterol; D005998:Glycine; D006540:Herbicides; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D000097797:Glyphosate
keywords: Glyphosate; Herbicide; Lichens; Toxicity; Uptake