ECOTOXICOLOGICAL AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF GLYPHOSATE ON THE ACTIVITY OF DUCKWEED

Ecotoxicological effect and risk assessment of a pesticide residue (glyphosate) was studied. The effect of different concentrations (0.2-0.8ppm) of glyphosate on the plant (Duckweed) was used for the study by collecting and culturing duckweed for a period of one week and thereafter exposing the duckweed to different concentrations of glyphosate for 8 days. The pigment content and biomass were monitored to assess the effects of the glyphosate on the plant. The results revealed that all the concentrations show adverse effect on the plant pigment content as well as on the biomass productivity as the days progressed and the concentration increases. This study has shown that the residue of glyphosate could be dangerous to the ecosystem at concentration as low as 0.2ppm which is actually the allowable level of glyphosate in plant leaf. Keywords : Ecotoxicology, duckweed, glyphosate, pigment, biomass