Weed management: herbicides and their side effects on crops

Herbicides are the most successful weed control technology ever developed. In general, herbicides account for the largest proportion of crop protection chemicals sold on a world-wide scale. Although herbicides are a boon to the agricultural community in substantially increasing crop yields, their use is not without potential problems. Further, the massive introduction of these molecules in the fields can generate long-term residues in food and the environment, leading to an increasing concern by consumers. In addition to their impact on the environment and food quality, some herbicides may also have consequences on crop development. Thus, a number of side effects including growth inhibition, delayed development and germination decreasing, biochemical effect, and cytogenetically effects that have been reported in some crop species are explained.

Keywords:

Herbicide , weed , side effect , germination , protein , cytogenetic