Effects of glyphosate on Fusarium spp.: its influence on root colonization of weeds, propagule density in the soil, and crop emergence

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Abstract
Glyphosate is a broad spectrum herbicide that can lead to root rot like damage on crops. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of glyphosate on the root-colonizing Fusarium spp. The research was conducted at two sites. Site one was densely covered with perennial weeds, and site two with annuals. At site one, spraying the weed cover with glyphosate increased (p < 0.05) the level of colonization by Fusarium spp. in Ranunculus repens and Holcus lanatus, but not in Stellaria media and Plantago lanceolata. At site two, glyphosate enhanced colonization in Spergula arvensis, Stellaria media, Echinochloa crus-galli, and Chenopodium album, but not in Capsella bursa-pastoris and Polygonum persicaria. At both sites, the number of colony-forming units of Fusarium spp. per gram of dried soil was increased by the application of glyphosate. Nevertheless, crops subsequently sown in the field containing the annual weeds were not detrimentally affected by glyphosate treatment of these weeds.