Ryegrass has a high potential for infestation in crops and orchads and its control with glyphosate has been limited due to the existence of herbicide-resistant biotypes. The objective of this work was to compare four ryegrass biotypes collected from different regions in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, to test the hypothesis that morphophysiological aspects and phenology are linked to resistance. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, where four biotypes, one susceptible (B1S, Passo Fundo) and three resistant to glyphosate (B2R, Santa Maria; B3R, Julio de Castillos; B4R, Vacaria) were collected at 126, 147, 168 and 189 days of age. Biotype B1S showed 21 days in advance of flowering in relation to the other biotypes. Biotype B4R produced significantly more leaves (43 per plant), tillers (14 per plant), ears (14 per plant), seeds (3484 per plant) and total dry matter (roots + shoot = 13.8 g per plant). It is concluded that sensitive biotypes cannot be distinguished from the resistant ones only by morphological aspects related to vigor.
morphological development; management; resistance to herbicide
