Seeds of Bidens pilosa L. (Compositae) were germinated in Petri dishes on filter paper wetted with aqueous suspensions of fluometuron at different concentrations (0, 5, 25, 125 and 625 ppm). The experiment was conducted during 7 days, under room conditions; the temperature range was 24°C - 28°C and the maximum light intensity was 600 lux. Fluometuron reduced germination percentage, radicle and hypocotyl lenght, affected cotyledon shape and, at the higher concentrations, prevented the pericarp rejection. The observed effects can not be attributed to biochemical lesions of the photosynthetic process.
Herbicides; fluometuron; Bidens pilosa L.; germination