Structural and functional responses in sun spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia L.) against post‐emergence herbicides in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

AbstractWe investigated changes in plant morphology, anatomy and physiology in a commonly occurring weed, Euphorbia helioscopia L. due to exposure to post‐emergence herbicides. Weed plants were sprayed with one of the following herbicides: pyrimidinyl sulphonylharnstoffe (PS), tribenuron‐methyl (TM), fluroxypyr‐methyl tribenuron‐methyl (FMTM) and bromoxynil (Br). The PS treatment significantly decreased plant height, promoted initiation of side branches and induced a prostrate habit. A specific response of root anatomy to PS and Br treatments was the high proportion of storage parenchyma. The Br‐treated plants showed thickest roots with a significantly large storage parenchyma, not only in the central portion of roots, but also in the cortical parenchyma outside the vascular tissue. A high proportion of xylem in the central portion of roots in the TM or FMTM‐treated plants provides a strong survival response in E. helioscopia. Disintegration of stem cortical parenchyma is the most prominent response of E. helioscopia when treated with a herbicide like PS or FMTM. Survival against these herbicides relates to a complete ring of vascular bundles and intact cortical parenchyma outside the vascular tissue. Increased leaf thickness was recorded in most of the cases except in the FMTM‐treated plants. The PS‐treated plants showed midrib thickness with two distinct vascular bundles. The cortical region, however, was found to be damaged by tissue collapse forming a large lysigenous aerenchyma. Euphorbia helioscopia had altered morphology, anatomy and physiology in response to herbicide application, which changed its growth in the field. To achieve control of this weed species, alternative strategies or higher doses of herbicide should be applied. Further research is required to determine the interaction of surviving weed plants with the crop.