Varudaraju and Wood 2026 Strawberries grown under sublethal glyphosate treatment and differing temperature and photoperiod regimes.

We conducted experimental trials with strawberry plants exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of glyphosate-based herbicide alongside unexposed control plants over five weeks using controlled-environment growth chambers set at three combinations of temperature and photoperiods. We measured photosynthetic capacity of leaves produced over the trial period as an indicator of plant health, and measured total biomass, glyphosate residues, and amino-methylphosphonic acid (AMPA; glyphosate’s main primary metabolite) residues in tissues at the conclusion of each trial.

Generally, we observed that the shorter the photoperiod and cooler the temperatures, the lower the ratio of AMPA:glyphosate (more glyphosate persisted), and the lower the photosynthetic capacity and shoot:root ratio. These results suggest that wild strawberries are more tolerant of glyphosate treatment at higher temperatures and may have a mechanism to breakdown glyphosate in tissue. Warmer temperatures and longer photoperiods may have facilitated faster degradation of glyphosate to AMPA in strawberry tissues which may have reduced glyphosate exposure times and increased plant tolerance.</p>