This work aimed to characterize the foliar surface of the weeds Commelina benghalensis, Ipomoea hederifolia, Richardia brasiliensis and Galinsoga parviflora and the percentage of control by the herbicide glyphosate. The epicuticular waxes were extracted by chloroform and quantified (µg cm-2). Central parts of the leaves of these weeds were submitted to electron microscopy to characterize the foliar surface. To evaluate the susceptibility of these weeds to glyphosate an experiment was arranged in a randomized complete design, 7 treatments (0, 360, 540, 720, 900, 1440 and 2160 g a.e. ha-1 of glyphosate) and four replications under greenhouse conditions at the University of São Paulo - ESALQ/USP - Piracicaba-SP, Brazil. Herbicide efficacy was assessed at 14, 21 and 28 days after treatment. In G. parviflora the foliar surface presents multicellular trichomes, and anomocytic stomata. In I. Hederifolia, the foliar surface is rough, with multicellular and glandular trichomes and paracytic stomata. In C. benghalensis, the foliar surface presents two types of trichomes and a lower number of tetracytic stomata. The presence of disperse wax was observed on the adaxial surface. R. brasiliensis presents great number of unicellular trichomes and paracytic stomata. The weeds C. benghalensis and R. brasiliensis were more tolerant to glyphosate than the other species studied. Based on the data obtained, it can be concluded that the weeds showed differences in the foliar characteristics, with C. benghalensis and R. brasiliensis being tolerant to the highest dose of glyphosate.
tolerance; leaf anatomy; epicuticular waxes and absorption
