Hormesis is defined as the stimulating effect of small doses of substances, which in larger doses are inhibitory. This research aimed at evaluating the effect of low doses of the herbicide glyphosate on the initial development of sugarcane in greenhouse. Sugarcane plants were obtained from isolated buds planted in plastic pots of 2.5 L. At 50 days after planting, glyphosate was sprayed at 0, 1.8, 3.6, 7.2, 18, 36, 72, 180, 360 and 720 g AE ha-1. At 0 and 25 days after application (daa), plant height, tiller number, number of green leaves, number of dead leaves and estimated chlorophyll contents (index SPAD) were evaluated. At 25 evaluated daa, fresh and dry mass of above-ground plant and roots were also determined. The experiment was installed in a completely randomized design with four replications. The glyphosate dose of 1.8 g AE ha-1 stimulated growth traits at the initial development of sugarcane. This hormetic effect could be used to manage the crop to exploit better the production environment.
Saccharum spp.; herbicide; low dose; growth stimulus
