Leaf anatomy of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz. cv. IAC-12) after herbicides application to control weeds in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Micro-morphological changes precede the appearance of visible damage after herbicide application and are essential in providing data for the safe recommendation in chemical management of weeds. Therefore, the aim of this research was to verify the anatomical changes of leaf tissue caused by application of herbicides in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz. cv. IAC-12). A greenhouse experiment was conducted with post-emergence herbicides treatments as follows: nicossulfuron (60 g a.i ha-1), fluazifop (250 g a.i ha-1), fomesafem (250 g a.i ha-1), metribuzin (480 g a.i ha-1), oxyfluorfen (720 g a.i ha-1) and the mixture fluazifop + fomesafen (200 + 250 g a.i ha-1), and an untreated control, respectively. The results obtained have allowed to affirm the cassava plants (cultivar IAC-12), exhibited changes in leaf anatomy in response to herbicide application even on cassava leaves without no visual toxicity symptoms. The products caused alterations both in tissue thickness as in tissue proportion in the leaf blade. For the fluazifop, a eudicotyledonous selective herbicide, changes were observed in tissue thickness and proportion of leaf blade, even without any visual toxicity detected. Cassava plants (IAC-12), showed structural changes in leaf anatomy in response to application of herbicides. The leaf anatomy of cassava cv. IAC-12, can be used to indicate the herbicide effect on cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.cv. IAC-12) plants