The resistance of weeds to herbicides is related to metabolic, enzymatic, physiological and anatomical changes. Coupled with these changes, plants can increase or decrease their physiological activities, which can affect their growth and development. Thus, resistant biotypes may have a higher ecological adaptation in these environments and become predominant due to the elimination of sensitive plants. Under natural selection conditions, biotypes with greater ecological adaptation show higher production than less adapted biotypes. Thus, the aim of this work was to assess the effect of competition on the physiological characteristics of Conyza bonariensis biotypes susceptible and resistant to the herbicide glyphosate. The treatments consisted of plants of two biotypes of C. bonariensis - one proven to be resistant and one susceptible to glyphosate. In the center of the experimental unit, three seeds of the C. bonariensis biotype considered for treatment - resistant (R) or susceptible (S) - were sown , with the plant being surrounded by 0 (no competition), 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 plants of the opposite biotype. The susceptible biotype presented a higher tolerance to competition with plants of the opposite biotype regarding the physiological characteristics evaluated. The resistant biotype of C. bonariensis has a physiological disadvantage compared to the susceptible one and, therefore, less potential for adaptability in the absence of the selection factor - the herbicide glyphosate.
photosynthesis; transpiration; resistance; ecological adaptability
