Myriophyllum aquaticum is a perennial, herbaceous plant which grows totally submerged or with the terminal portion of the branches above the surface of the water. It is also considered to be a harmful plant, possessing a high colonization potential which, depending on population density, can increase the organic matter content and reduce oxygen in the water, compromising the quality of water and its multiple uses. The objective of the present work was to verify the effect of copper on the activity of pirogalol peroxidase in M. aquaticum plants submitted to nutritive solution containing copper concentrations of 1.2; 11.2; 21.2; 31.2 and 41.2 µg L-1. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete design with 4 replicates and 5 treatments for 21 days Eighty-one days later, the leaves were collected starting from the apex of the plant to the end of the branch, which was not in contact with the solution. This fresh material was involved by transparent plastic and aluminum foil, frozen in liquid nitrogen, stored in freezer to -20 °C until determination of the enzyme activity. Enzyme activity increased with the increase of the copper doses. The plants cultivated with 40 µg L-1 of Cu2+ showed a reduced development, after three weeks, based on visual examination..
oxidative stress; tolerance; weed; aquatic plant
