The objective of this work was to evaluate the characteristics associated to water use efficiency in ryegrass biotypes resistant and susceptible to glyphosate, under different competition levels. The trial was installed in factorial scheme (2 x 5), with one plant of the studied biotype alone at the center of the plot, under competition against 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 plants of the opposite biotype. The variables (shoot dry matter (MSPA), water vapor stomatal conductance (Gs), water vapor pressure from the leaf chamber (Ean), leaf and air temperature difference (deltaT) and transpiration rate (E)) were evaluated 50 days after emergence, with water use efficiency (WUE) being obtained by the relation between the amount of CO2 fixed by photosynthesis and the corresponding transpired water. A correlation table was built between all evaluated variables. The biotype susceptible to glyphosate accumulated dry matter more efficiently than the resistant one, when growing both alone or under competition. On the other hand, the biotype susceptible to glyphosate is less efficient in water use.
herbicide resistance; glyphosate; competition
