This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the herbicide fluridone to control submersed aquatic weeds (Egeria densa, Egeria najas and Ceratophyllum demersum), as well as its effects on some environmental characteristics. The research was carried out in the reservoir of Eng. Souza Dias (Jupiá) Hydro-elecric plant power, Station in northwestern São Paulo, Brazil, in Lagoa Vírgula bay. The bay was divided in nine zones and six of them received an initial application of fluridone to achieve the concentration of 20 ppb. The amounts of fluridone used in all other applications were calculated to restore the 20 ppb concentration. In order to study the herbicide loss due to water flow, fluridone concentrations were monitored in all treated and non-treated zones of the bay and in upstream and downstream areas. Fluridone effects on some environmental characteristics, such as turbidity, water temperature, electric conductivity, oxigen concentration, pH and fluridone residues were evaluated. Visual evaluation of phytotoxicity symptoms on the three species studied and biomass evaluations were also carried out. Fluridone controlled the submersed aquatic plants E. najas and E. densa. E. densa and E. najas regrew as the effect of fluridone ended while C. demersum was not controlled. Fluridone did not produce any negative effect on the environmental quality characteristics studied in the treated areas.
fluridone; aquatic macrophyte; Egeria densa; Egeria najas; Ceratophyllum demersum
