The effect of some herbicides on vesicular-arbuscular endophyte abundance in the soil and on infection of host roots

The effect of the herbicides di-allate, diquat, diuron, paraquat, tri-allate and trifluralin, at a range of application rates from 0.5 to 32 times that recommended by the manufacturers, on vesicular-arbuscular (V-A) endophyte spore abundance in the soil and on infection of wheat roots was investigated in field and glasshouse experiments. Paraquat and diquat had no measurable effect on V-A endophyte spore abundance. There was a slight trend to lower V-A endophyte spore numbers at high rates of application of di-allate and tri-allate but no trend for the other chemicals. Infection intensity (% root length infected) declined at high rates of di-allate and led to lower mycorrhizal root weights. The phosphorus content of the shoots was also reduced by di-allate. High doses of di-allate, diuron, tri-allate and trifluralin reduced most parameters of plant growth more than mycorrhizal parameters. It is therefore concluded that at normal application rates these chemicals are unlikely to affect adversely endomycorrhiza formation or function.     

Collaborative studies of dose-response curves obtained with different bioassay methods for soil-applied herbicides

In a collaborative study by 12 laboratories the reproducibility of bioassay techniques was analysed by comparison and statistical treatment of the ED₅₀-values (μg herbicide/g soil). Commonlyused bioassay techniques were investigated; two direct seeding methods, a transplanting method and a shoot extension method. The herbicides studied were two photosynthesis inhibitors, atrazine and metribuzin using Lepidium sativum and Brassica rapa as test plants; two germination inhibitors, tri-allate and trifluralin using Avena sativa as test plant. The mean ED₅₀-value of atrazine in the direct seeding method was 0.18 with a variation from 0.12 to 0.29 and 0.12 (0.07–0.68) in the transplanting method. The values of metribuzin were 0.05 (0.02–0.11) and 0.03 (0.01–0.15) respectively. The values for triallate were 1.15 (0.50–2.60) in the direct seeding method and 1.10 (0.54–2.53) in the shoot extension method and for trifluralin 3.11 (0.72–18.31) and 1.33 (0.48–2.94) respectively. The reproducibility was best in the shoot extension method. No outliers (confidence intervals lying entirely outside the confidence interval of the overall mean) in the ED₅₀-values were observed with atrazine and metribuzin when using the direct seeding method, whereas with the germination inhibitors a high number of results (four with tri-allate, six with trifluralin) could be considered as outliers. A comparison of the use of fresh weight and dry matter showed good agreement between the ED₅₀-values they gave, with similar reproducibility.     

Persistence studies with [14C] 2,4-D in soils previously treated with herbicides and pesticides

The persistence of [¹⁴C] 2,4-D at a rate equivalent to 1 kg/ha was compared under laboratory conditions in samples of heavy clay, sandy loam, and clay loam at 85% of field capacity moisture and 20 ± 1°C which had either received no pre-treatment, or had been pre-treated for 7 days at the 2 μg/g level with the herbicides benzoylprop-ethyl, diclofop-methyl, dinitramine, flamprop-methyl, nitrofen, picloram, tri-allate, trifluralin, and a combination of tri-allate and trifluralin. The breakdown of [¹⁴C] 2,4-D was also studied in the same soils that had similarly received pre-treatments of 2 μg/g of the cereal seed dressing Vitaflo-DB, the insecticide, malathion, and a combination of Vitaflo-DB and malathion. In each soil type, the half-life of the 2,4-D was similar regardless of whether the soil had, or had not, received any pre-treatment, indicating that none of the chemicals investigated adversely affected the soil degradation of 2,4-D.     

DEGRADATION, ADSORPTION AND VOLATILITY OF DI-ALLATE AND TRI-ALLATE IN PRAIRIE SOILS

Summary. Electron-capture gas chromatography was used to detect di-allate and tri-allate in two soils at different moisture levels. At rates equivalent to 2 25-2 - 50 lb/ac, 50% of the di-allate applied was degraded in Weyburn loam in 4 weeks at moisture levels in excess of the wilting point. Losses in Regina heavy clay were slightly lower. In both soils little degradation was observed at moisture levels below the wilting points and negligible losses occurred in sterile soils, indicating that microbial degradation can be an important factor contributing to di-allate breakdown. Breakdown of tri-allate in both soils was slower than for di-allate. At 2·0 lb/ac di-allate was leached more from Weyburn loam than from Regina heavy clay. Tri-allate underwent almost complete adsorption by four soils from aqueous solution, whereas di-allate was adsorbed to a lesser extent. Soil volatility of tri-allate appears to be negligible even on heating to 50°C for 28 days. Vapour losses of di-allate from treated soils are dependent on soil type and temperature. In field plots 15–20% of the applied tri-allate was found in the top 5 cm soil after one growing season. Less than 5% of the initial di-allate remained. Negligible residues of either chemical were found at the 5–10 cm level. Dégradation, adsorption et volatilité du di-allate et du tri-allate dans des sols de prairies Résumé. La capture d'électrons dans la chionnatographie en phase gazeuse a été utilisée pour déceler le di-allate et le tri-allate dans deux sols, à deux taux différents d'humidité. A des doses d'environ 2,52 à 2,80 kg/ha, 50% du di-allate appliqueé dans un limon de Weyburn fut dégradé en 4 semaines, à des taux d'humidité supérieurs au point de fiétris-sement. Les pertes furent légèrement inférieures dans un sol argileux lourd de Regina. Dans les deux sols, une faible dégradation fut observése à des taux d'humiditi inférieurs au point de flétrissement et les pertes furent négligeables dans les sols stéiles; ceci montre que l'activité microhienne peut etre un facteur important dans la degradation du di-allate. La degradation du tri-allate dans les deux sols fut moins rapide que celle du di-allate. A la dose de 2,2 kg/ha, le lessivage du diallate fut plus important dans le limon de Weyburn que dans le sol argileux lourd de Regina. Le tri-allate fut presque compléte-ment adsorbé par quatre sols, à partir d'une solution aqueuse, alors que le di-allate ne fut adsorbé que dans une proportion moindre. La volatilityé du tri-allate dans le sol apparut négligeable, meme en chauffant à50°C pendant 28 jours. Les pertes du diallate par évaporation à partir de sols traités sont sous la dependance du type de sol et de la température. Dans les parcelles au champ 15 à 20% du tri-allate appliqué fut rctrouvé dans les 5 premiers centimétres du sol aprés une saison de culture, alors qu'il ne subsista que moins de 5% de la quantité initiale de di-allate. Des résidus négligeables de I'un ou l'autre des deux produits furent retrouves au niveau 5 à 10 cm. Abbau, Adsorption undFluchtigkeit von Diallat und Triallat in Prairieböden Zusammenfassung. Elektroneneinfatig-Gaschromatographie wurde zur Bestimmung von Diallat und Triallat in zwei Böden bei verschiedenen Feuchtigkeitsstufen verwendet. Bei Atifwandmengen von 2,52-2,80 kg/ha, wurden 50% des ausgebrachten Diallats bei einem Feuehtigkeitsgehalt, der über dem Welkepunkt lag, innerhalb von vier Wochen abgebaut. In schwerem Regina-Ton waren die Verluste etwas geringer. In beiden Boden vnirde bei Feuchtigkeitsstufen unterhalb des Wclkepunktes wenig Abbau beobachtet. Vernachlässigbarc Verluste traten in sterilen Böden auf, was darauf hinweist, dass Mikro-organismen eine wichtigc Roile beim Abbau von Diallat spielen. Der Abbau von Triallat verlief in heiden Boden langsatner als der von Diallat. Bei 2,24 kg/ha wurde Diallat aus Weyburn Lehmboden stärker ausgewaschen als aus schwerem Regina-Tonboden. Triallat wurde aus einer wässrigen Lösung in vier Böden nahczu vollständig adsorbiert, wäirend Diallat in einem geringeren Ausmass adsorbiert wurde. Verdampfung von Triallat aus dem Boden scheint selbst bei 28-tägiger Erhitzung des Bodens auf 50°C gering zu sein. Verdampfungsverluste von Diallat aus behandelten Boden hängen vom Bodentyp und der Temperatur ab. In Feldversuchen wurden nach einer Vegetationsperiode 15–20% des ausgebrachten Triallats wiedergefunden. Weniger als 5% der ursprunglichen Diallatmcnge war dort verblieben. Nur vernachlassigbare Rückstandsmengen wurden bei beiden Herbiziden in Bodentiefen von 5–10 cm gefunden.     

Absorption,translocation, and metabolism of ethalfluralin and trifluralin in Solanum spp

Seedlings of Solanum scabrum Mill. and Solanum ptycanthum Dun. were treated with [¹⁴C]ethalfluralin (N-ethyl-α,α,α-trifluoro-N-(methylallyl)-2,6-dinitro-p-toluidine) and [¹⁴C]trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine) supplied in nutrient solution to determine the basis for differences in response by these two species to these two herbicides. Plants of S. scabrum absorbed more [¹⁴C]ethalfluralin and [¹⁴C]trifluralin than plants of S. ptycanthum. During the first 24 h, S. scabrum seedlings, but not S. ptycanthum seedlings absorbed more [¹⁴C]ethalfluralin than did plants treated with [¹⁴C]trifluralin. More [¹⁴C]ethalfluralin than [¹⁴C]trifluralin was found in the shoots of plants of both species. Seventy-two hours after treatment with [¹⁴C]herbicides, the conversion to water-soluble metabolites was greater for [¹⁴C]ethalfluralin than for [¹⁴C]trifluralin. In the shoots of plants from both species an average of nearly 55% of the ¹⁴C recovered was found in the water-soluble fraction following [¹⁴C]ethalfluralin treatment whereas an average of only 40% was found in the water-soluble fraction following [¹⁴C]trifluralin treatment.     

Soil persistence experiments with [14C]2,4-D in herbicidal mixtures, and field persistence studies with tri-allate and trifluralin both singly and combined

The persistence of [¹⁴C]2,4-D at a rate equivalent to 1 kg/ha was studied in the laboratory on a heavy clay and a sandy loam at 85%of field capacity and 20°C both alone and in the presence of 1 kg/ha dicamba, dichlorprop, difenzoquat, TCA, and 2,4,5-T. The persistence of 2,4,5-T was also monitored in both soils under the same conditions in the presence and absence of [¹⁴C]2,4-D. All soils were extracted at weekly intervals using aqueous acidic acetonitrile and analysed for [¹⁴C]2,4-D remainining radiochemical techniques. The extracts containing 2,4.5-T were additionally analysed gas chromatographically for that herbicide. In each soil type the half-life of the 2,4-D was similar regardless of whether applied singly or in combination with the five herbicides tested. Similarly, [¹⁴C]2,4-D did not affect the breakdown of 2,4,5-T in either soil type. The persistence of tri-allate (1·5 kg/ha) and trifluralin (0·75 kg/ha) both singly and in combination were compared using small field plots at two locations in Saskatchewan. Applications were made during May of 1977 and 1978 and the plots were sampled and analysed for herbicide(s) remaining after 10 and 20 weeks, respectively. The results indicate that within experimental error the loss of both tri-allate and trifluralin from the plots treated with the mixture was the same as from plots treated with the individual compounds.     

Soil persistence studies with [14C]MCPA in combination with other herbicides and pesticides

The persistence of [¹⁴C]MCPA at a rate equivalent to 1 kg ha^?1 was studied under laboratory conditions in a clay loam, heavy clay and sandy loam at 85% of field capacity moisture and 20±1°C both alone and in the presence of tri-allate, trifluralin, tri-allate and trifluralin, malathion, Vitaflow DB, malathion and Vitaflow DB, bromoxynil, bromoxynil and asulam, bromoxynil and difenzoquat, dicamba, dicamba and mecoprop, linuron, MCPB, metribuzin, propanil, TCA, benzoylprop-ethyl, diclofop-methyl, and flamprop-methyl. Except in the soils treated with asulam, the half-lives of [¹⁴C]MCPA in all three soil types were similar, being approximately 13±1 days, thus indicating that none of the other chemicals studied adversely affected the soil degradation of MCPA. In the asulam treated soils, the half-lives of the MCPA were about 3 days longer than in non-asulam treated soils; the effect was most marked in the clay loam.     

Persistence and leaching of the herbicides acetochlor and terbuthylazine in an allophanic soil: comparisons of field results with PRZM‐3 predictions

Rates of degradation and adsorption of acetochlor [2‐chloro‐N‐ethoxymethyl‐6′‐ethylaceto‐o‐ toluidide] and terbuthylazine [N ²‐tert‐butyl‐6‐chloro‐N⁴‐ethyl‐1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4‐diamine] in a Horotiu sandy loam soil (Typic Orthic Allophanic) were determined under controlled temperature and soil moisture regimes. These were then combined with site‐specific soil properties and climatic conditions in the Pesticide Root Zone Model (PRZM‐3) to predict dissipation and leaching of the herbicides in the field. PRZM‐3 significantly under‐estimated dissipation of both herbicides in the field using parameters derived from the laboratory incubation studies. When these parameters were derived from the field trials, PRZM‐3 adequately predicted dissipation of both herbicides using a two‐rate dissipation sub‐model but under‐predicted the dissipation when a simpler single‐rate sub‐model was used. Earlier‐than‐expected appearance of both herbicides in sub‐soil layers were postulated to result from the non‐equilibrium adsorption/transport of the herbicides and preferential flow, which cannot be simulated by PRZM‐3. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Enhanced Mineralization of [14C]Atrazine in Kochia scoparia Rhizospheric Soil from a Pesticide-Contaminated Site

Mineralization of atrazine (6-chloro-N²-ethyl-N⁴-isopropyl-1,3,5- triazine-2,4-diamine) in soil treated with a mixture of atrazine and metolachlor (2-chloro-6′-ethyl-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acet-o-toluidide at concentrations typical of point-source contamination (50 μg g⁻¹ each) was significantly greater (P<0·001) in rhizospheric soil from Kochia scoparia (L.) Roth., a herbicide-resistant plant, than in non-vegetated and control soils. Soils were collected from an agrochemical dealership contaminated with several herbicides, including atra-zine, metolachlor, trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine and pendimethalin (N-(1-ethylpropyl)-2,6-dinitro-3,4-xylidene), at concentrations well exceeding the field application rates. Mineralization rates of ring-labeled atrazine in both rhizospheric and non-vegetated soils were quite high (>47% of the initial ¹⁴C applied after 36 days) compared to literature values. These results suggest that plants such as Kochia might be managed at pesticide-contaminated sites to help facilitate microbial degradation of wastes such as atrazine in soil.     

Response of Arabidopsis thaliana to 22 ALS inhibitors: baseline toxicity and cross-resistance of csr1-1 and csr1-2 resistant mutants

The baseline toxicity of 22 acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides and the cross-resistance patterns of chlorsulfuron- and imazapyr-resistant (R) lines on these 22 ALS-inhibiting herbicides were investigated using the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. The 22 herbicides consisted of 18 sulfonylureas (SU), three imidazolinones (IMI) and one triazolopyrimidine (TP). The ED₅₀ values (doses of herbicides required to reduce dry matter by 50%) of the post-emergence-treated Col and Ler susceptible (S) lines ranged from 22 to 4822 mg ha⁻¹ and from 17 to 3143 mg ha⁻¹ respectively. The csr1-1 chlorsulfuron-resistant line (substitution of Pro₁₉₇ to Ser) conferred a high resistance to the only TP tested as well as to nine SU herbicides (R:S ratio ≥30), a low resistance to two SU herbicides (R:S≥5 and <30) and little or no resistance to the three IMI and seven other SU herbicides (R:S <5). This result contradicts the expectation that an ALS mutation selected by an SU herbicide confers high cross-resistance to other SU herbicides. We found that the efficacy of specific ALS inhibitors was different for different species and therefore could not be predicted from our results with A. thaliana; however, the cross-resistance patterns in A. thaliana were highly correlated with cross-resistance patterns in unrelated species with the same resistance mutation. These results have implications for resistance management.     

Effects of pesticides on 1,3-β-glucanase and urease activities in soil in the presence and absence of fertilisers,lime and organic materials

The effect of four herbicides (2, 4-D, di-allate, benzoylprop-ethyl and glyphosate) and one insecticide (malathion) on 1, 3-β-glucanase and urease activities in soil was investigated in the laboratory. Concentrations equivalent to five times the recommended field application rates of the pesticides, applied as their formulations, had no effect on the activity of either enzyme, under a variety of incubation conditions, which included various moisture regimes and soil treatments. The soil enzyme systems could only be disrupted by unrealistically high dosage rates of the active ingredients (0.1–1.0 g kg^?1 of soil), Thus 1, 3-β-glucanase activity was enhanced by 2, 4-D, inhibited by di-allate, benzoylprop-ethyl and malathion, but unaffected by glyphosate; whereas urease activity was inhibited by 2, 4-D, but unaffected by di-allate, benzoylprop-ethyl and glyphosate.     

THE EFFECT OF REPEATED FIELD APPLICATIONS OF FOUR HERBICIDES ON THE EVOLUTION OF CARBON DIOXIDE AND MINERALIZATION OF NITROGEN IN SOIL

The effect of repeated annual applications over 7-8 years of MCPA, triallate, simazine and linuron to field plots on the evolution of CO₂ and mineralization of nitrogen in soil samples incubated in the laboratory is described. The plots were either cropped and treated with standard doses, or uncropped and sprayed with doses 3-4 times above the level used in agricultural practice. While the applications of MCPA and tri-allate did not exert any inhibitory effects in soils from the uncropped plots those of simazine and linuron led to a lowering in CO₂ output in several instances and in mineral N on infrequent occasions. These effects are assumed to be the result of a difference in the content of easily-degradable organic matter between the treated plots and the controls. A direct anti-microbial action of the two herbicides is not very probable because in laboratory experiments with simazine up to 512 ppm the output of CO₂ and the mineralization of N was not affected while linuron at 500 ppm gave only a minor depression in CO₂ evolution. Effects on soil fertility are unknown but seem unlikely in view of the small extent and infrequency of the reductions observed. On the cropped plots the MCPA and tri-allate treatment showed no effects. With linuron and simazine a significant lowering in respiration and mineralization of N occurred on single occasions only, during a 5-year period.     

Distribution and degradation of dinitroaniline herbicides in an aquatic ecosystem

The accumulation potential of six, structurally related, dinitroaniline herbicides was investigated in an aquatic ecosystem. The herbicides investigated were trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine), profluralin [N-(cyclopropylmethyl)-α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N-propyl-p-toluidine], dinitramine [N³,N³-diethyl-2,4-dinitro-6-(trifluoromethyl)-m-phenylenediamine], chlornidine [N,N-bis(2-chloroethyl)-2,6-dinitro-p-toluidine], fluchloralin [N-(2-chloroethyl)-2,6-dinitro-N-propyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)aniline], and butralin [4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-N-(1-methylpropyl)-2,6-dinitrobenzenamine]. The herbicide (0.1 mg) plus 1 μCi of ¹⁴C-labeled herbicide was adsorbed on 100 g of soil (1 ppm), added to individual aquariums, and flooded with 4 liters of water. Algae, snails, and daphnia were added, and ¹⁴C in water was monitored for 30 days. Fish were added on Day 30, and all components were harvested 3 days later. Bioaccumulation ratios (concentration in organism/concentration in water) for fish depended on the amount of their exposure to sunlight: Aquariums held in the dark had higher ratios for fish (235–755) than did those exposed to sunlight (32–83). Bioaccumulation ratios in the dark for fish based on ¹⁴C from bound soil residues of butralin and profluralin were 76 and 119, respectively. Direct repeated applications of profluralin (without soil) at 4-day intervals resulted in a rapid increase, then a decrease in bioaccumulation ratios for Gambusia, but a continuous increase for catfish.     

Microbial dealkylation of trifluralin in pure culture

Mixed populations of soil microorganisms were enriched in the presence of trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine) and 180 pure strains were subsequently isolated. About a third were able to liberate 1.5–6% ¹⁴CO₂ from 0.15 mM [propyl-1-¹⁴C]trifluralin after growing for 21 days on a complex medium. One strain, identified as a Candida sp., showed a ¹⁴CO₂ evolution of 11%. The amount of liberated ¹⁴CO₂ could not be enhanced by adding small concentrations (<3%) of solvents to the culture, by varying the concentration of trifluralin, or by varying the composition of the complex medium. The Candida sp. was unable to cleave the aromatic ring of trifluralin or to use trifluralin as a sole source of carbon or nitrogen. Only traces (< 1%) of dealkylated trifluralin were accumulated in the culture.     

Trifluralin persistence under two different soil and climatic conditions

An investigation of the persistence of trifluralin was conducted as field experiments over a two year period at latitudes 60°N and 70°N respectively, paying special attention to the soil and climatic conditions. These experiments included glasshouse bioassays with Lolium multiflorum. gas-chromatographic residue analyses and qualitative and quantitative studies on soil bacteria. Special attention was devoted to clay minerals as well as to the soil organic matter. 100 g or 500 g of trifluralin a.i. ha^?1 were applied in the spring 1978 with a reapplication on half of the area the following spring (1979). The phytotoxicity of trifluralin appeared more severe on re-treated plots compared with single applications even at approximately equal residue levels. Trifluralin did not seem to have any real influence on the total number of soil bacteria. A qualitative change of the bacterial flora was however observed as a relative increase of non-sporeformers, Gram negatives and Actinomy-cetes and a relative depression of the Coryneform bacteria/Arthrobacter group. Even at a recommended dosage, a carry-over phytotoxicity the following year may occur, especially when the content of organic matter in the soil is low. Care should therefore be taken when using this herbicide on the same field in two successive years. The properties of the soil seemed to exert a greater influence than the climatic factors on the persistence of trifluralin.     

9种除草剂对花生白绢病菌的影响

在实验室条件下测定了氟乐灵、乙草胺、异丙甲草胺、异恶草酮、乳氟禾草灵、乙氧氟草醚、三氟羧草醚、恶草酮、二甲戊乐灵等9种除草剂对花生白绢病菌Sclerotium rolfsi Sacc.的影响.结果表明:9种除草剂对花生白绢病病菌的毒力有较大差异,三氟羧草醚和乙氧氟草醚的毒力较高,IC50分别为7.88mg·L-1和18.91mg·L-1;9种除草剂对菌丝干重均有抑制作用,且随剂量的升高而升高,乙氧氟草醚和三氟羧草醚抑制作用最明显,在100mg·L-1和50mg·L-1时抑制率均达90%以上;除乙草胺和异丙甲草胺部分剂量外,其他除草剂对菌核数量均有不同程度的抑制作用,三氟羧草醚作用最为明显,在供试剂量下抑制率均达96%以上;除乙草胺、氟乐灵在供试剂量下对菌核单重有抑制作用外,其他除草剂在多数剂量下对菌核单重均有刺激作用,三氟羧草醚在50mg·L-1时,是对照菌核单重的8.34倍;而各种除草剂在供试剂量下,对菌核萌发均没有影响.     

Metabolism of trifluralin,profluralin, and fluchloralin by rat liver microsomes

Three structurally related [¹⁴C]dinitroaniline herbicides, trifluralin, profluralin, and fluchloralin, were extensively metabolized in vitro by both normal and phenobarbital-induced rat liver microsomes. Identification of the metabolites in the ethyl acetate extracts indicated that aliphatic hydroxylation, N-dealkylation, reduction of a nitro group, and cyclization were the predominant metabolic routes for these herbicides in vitro. Of particular interest was the formation of a benzimidazole metabolite.     

Comparison of trifluralin,oryzalin, pronamide,propham, and colchicine treatments on microtubules

The mode of action of trifluralin (α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine), oryzalin (3,5-dinitro-N⁴,N⁴-dipropylsulfanilamide), pronamide(N-(1,1-dimethylpropynyl) 3,5-dichlorobenzamide), and propham (isopropyl carbanilate) on purified microtubules from pig brains and on the ultrastructure of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. “Mediterranean,” C. I. 5303) and corn (Zea mays L. “yellow dent, U. S. 13”) roots was compared with that known for colchicine. Colchicine disrupts the in vivo cortical and spindle microtubules of root cells. Like colchicine, the herbicides trifluralin, oryzalin, and pronamide caused the loss of both cortical and spindle microtubules of root cells. The rate of microtubule disappearance depended on the type of herbicide and length of exposure of roots to the herbicide. Unlike colchicine, cortical microtubules were present in propham-treated roots but they were disoriented within the cell.In vitro polymerization studies with pig brain microtubules (Sus scrofa) showed that the herbicides failed to inhibit the assembly of purified microtubular protein into microtubules and that radioactively labeled herbicides did not bind to the microtubular protein. Colchicine inhibited the polymerization of microtubular protein and readily bound to the microtubular subunits. These results indicate that the mode of action of the herbicides is not similar to that of colchicine and that the loss of microtubules from root tip cells treated with trifluralin, oryzalin, and pronamide may be caused by these herbicides interfering with synthesis of microtubular protein or metabolism of endoplasmic reticulum membranes involved in microtubule assembly. The mode of action of propham appears to be on the microtubular organizing centers rather than on microtubules per se.     

Chemical hydrolysis of 2-chloro-4,6-bis(alkylamino)-1,3,5-triazine herbicides and their breakdown in soil under the influence of adsorption

The determination of rate constants and the calculation of the activation parameters [activation energy (E_a), free energy of activation(ΔG^≠)and entropy of activation (ΔS^≠)] demonstrated the identity of the reaction kinetics of chemical hydrolysis of the chlorinated triazine herbicides simazine, atrazine, propazine and terbuthylazine. Persistence in soil could be estimated, from the hydrolytic half-life time, only in pH regions where these compounds were also sensitive to chemical hydrolysis. In general, the rate of hydrolysis increased in the presence of soil as the result of a catalysing effect of the soil in their breakdown. When half-lives in soil of these triazine herbicides were compared with adsorption constants, a functional relationship was observed in both soil types; as adsorption increased the half-life in soil also increased.     

Growth and chemical composition of soybeans as affected by trifluralin and soil salinity

The combined effects of 0, 1 and 2 ppm trifluralin and five soil salinity levels (0.35, 2, 4, 6 and 8 mS/cm) on growth and chemical composition of soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] were studied in a glasshouse experiment. Analyses of variance indicated that the interaction of soil salinity and trifluralin was not significant for root and top dry weights and root nodulation. Root dry weight was not affected by trifluralin, whereas 2 ppm trifluralin significantly reduced top dry yield and root nodulation. Shoot and root yields and root nodulation were reduced with increasing soil salinity. Trifluralin at 1 ppm significantly decreased P concentration and at 2 ppm substantially increased N concentration. Moreover, there was a general trend of an increase in N concentration and a decrease in P concentration with salinity. The concentration and uptake of Cl and Na increased with increasing soil salinity. Probably large accumulations of Cl and Na and/or water stress caused by high salinity were responsible for growth reductions in salinized media.