Resistance of Amaranthus hybridus to atrazine

Resistance of weeds to triazine herbicides has been recorded in many countries. The extent of the problem in South Africa is uncertain. In a pilot study, the atrazine resistance of Amaranthus hybridus L. (smooth pigweed) was investigated. Suspected resistant (R) and susceptible (S) biotypes were treated with commercially formulated atrazine. After post-and pre-emergence applications under tunnel conditions, it was found that the suspected R biotype plants were not affected at herbicide dosages of belween 1.25 and 25.0 kg a.i. ha^-1, i.e. up to 20 times gieater than the lowest recommended dosage. However, the S biotype plants were killed by the lowest dosage. In the fieid, mortalities in the R biolype were not observed after post-emergence applications of 1.25-10.00 kg a.i. ha^-1. In contrast, all S biotype plants were killed. In tunnel experiments, the R biotype was also found to be resistant to cyanazine and cyanazine+atrazine, while slight tolerance to linuron was observed. All these treatments resulted in 100% mortality of the S biotype. Although S biotype seeds oi A. hybridus were found to germinate slightly sooner under controlled conditions than R biotype seeds, preliminary results suggest that there are no major differences. Indications are that, although the growth of the S biotype may be greater than that of the R biotype, the competitive effect of the two biotypes on crop seedlings may well be similar.     

Amaranthus palmeri resistance and differential tolerance of Amaranthus palmeri and Amaranthus hybridus to ALS-inhibitor herbicides

Suspected imazaquin-resistant accessions of Amaranthus palmeri were studied to determine the magnitude of resistance and cross-resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides and compare differential tolerance of A palmeri and Amaranthus hybridus to ALS inhibitors. Five of seven A palmeri accessions were resistant to imazaquin. The most imazaquin-resistant accession, accession 7, also showed 74, 39 and 117 times higher resistance than the susceptible biotype to chlorimuron, diclosulam and pyrithiobac, respectively. Resistance to imazaquin and cross-resistance to other ALS inhibitors in A palmeri was due to a less-sensitive ALS enzyme. A palmeri was 70 times more tolerant to imazaquin than A hybridus. A palmeri was also seven times more tolerant to pyrithiobac than A hybridus. Differences in ALS enzyme sensitivity could not fully account for the high tolerance of A palmeri to imazaquin compared to A hybridus. Both species were equally affected by chlorimuron and diclosulam.     

Amaranthus hybridus populations resistant to triazine and acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides

Amaranthus hybridus L. populations (A, B and C) obtained from escapes in Massac County and Pope County fields in southern Illinois, USA were subjected to greenhouse and laboratory experiments to measure multiple resistance to triazine and acetolactate synthase (ALS)‐inhibiting herbicides and cross‐resistance between sulfonylurea and imidazolinone herbicides. Phytotoxicity responses of the three populations revealed that only population B exhibited multiple resistances to triazine and ALS‐inhibiting herbicides. This population was >167‐, >152‐ and >189‐fold resistant to atrazine, imazamox and thifensulfuron, respectively, at the whole plant level compared with the susceptible population. Population A was only resistant to triazines and population C was only resistant to ALS‐inhibiting herbicides. Results from in vivo ALS enzyme and chlorophyll fluorescence assays confirmed these findings and indicated that an altered site‐of‐action mediated resistance to both triazine and ALS‐inhibiting herbicides. Gene sequencing revealed that a glycine for serine substitution at residue 264 of the D1 protein, and a leucine for tryptophan substitution at residue 574 of ALS were the causes of resistance for the three populations.     

Sulfometuron-resistant Amaranthus retroflexus: cross-resistance and molecular basis for resistance to acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides

A biotype of Amaranthus retroflexus L. is the first weed in Israel to develop resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. The resistant biotype (Su-R) was collected from Ganot, a site that had been treated for more than 3 consecutive years with sulfometuron-methyl + simazine. On the whole-plant basis, the resistance ratio ( ED₅₀ Su-R)/( ED₅₀ Su-S) was 6–127 for sulfonylureas, 4–63 for imidazolinones, 20–35 for triazolopyrimidines and 11 for pyrithiobac-sodium. Similar levels of resistance were found also when the herbicides were applied before emergence. Based on a root elongation bioassay, Su-R was 3240-fold more resistant to sulfometuron-methyl than Su-S. In vitro studies have shown that the Su-R biotype was resistant at the enzyme level to all ALS inhibitors tested. The nucleotide sequences of two amplified regions between the Su-S and the Su-R differed in only one nucleotide. One substitution has occurred in domain A, cytosine by thymine (C C C to C T C) at position 248, that confers an exchange of the amino acid proline in the susceptible to leucine in the Su-R. The proline to leucine change in domain A is the only difference in the amino acid primary structure of the regions sequenced, indicating that it is responsible for the ALS-inhibitor resistance observed.     

Inhibition of photosynthesis in intact plants of biotypes resistant or susceptible to atrazine and cross-resistance to other herbicides

A concentration of atrazine of 0?1 mm 1^?1 in the nutrient solution resulted in complete inhibition of photosynthesis in intact leaves of susceptible biotypes of Amaranthus retroflexus L., Polygonum lapathifolium L., Chenopodium album L., Solanum nigrum L., Poa annua L. and Stellaria media (L.) Vill. within a few hours of treatment, whereas the inhibition of the resistant biotypes by the same concentration varied from small to moderate. In contrast, diuron (10 or 20 μm 1^?1) produced only minor differences between resistant and susceptible biotypes. The influence of some other herbicides on photosynthesis of these resistant biotypes was also smaller than that on the susceptible biotypes. This cross-resistance was evaluated with the resistance factor for intact leaves of Brassica napus L., A. retroflexus, and S. nigrum. This factor is equal to the ratio of the herbicide concentration in leaves of the resistant biotype to that in leaves of the susceptible biotype with inhibition to half-maximum rate of photosynthesis. This concentration in the leaves was calculated from the concentration in the nutrient solution, and the total transpiration divided by leaf area from the beginning of the herbicide treatment until the moment of half-maximum of photosynthesis. The resistance factors for intact leaves of A. retroflexus, S. nigrum and B. napus were 26–30 for atraton, 3–7 for metamitron, 2–9 for bromacil, 3–5 for monolinuron, 1 for diuron and < 1 for bentazone. For isolated chloroplasts much higher values have been reported. The reason for this discrepancy is not clear. A somewhat higher resistance factor (around 50–60) was derived after infiltration of detached leaves of these species with atraton solutions.     

Physical basis for the maternal inheritance of triazine resistance in Amaranthus hybridus

In an effort to determine the physical basis of the maternal inheritance of triazine resistance in Amaranthus hybridus L. the fate of plastids and other organelles in developing pollen was investigated in triazine-resistant and susceptible biotypes. In both types, immediately after microspore mitosis, the newly formed generative cells contained an array of organelles (golgi bodies, endoplasmic reticulum, plastids and mitochondria) similar to that in the larger vegetative cells. No selective exclusion of organelles from the generative cell was noted although only small plastids were present. The immature generative cells contained small vacuoles, within which degenerate organelles were frequently observed, and no ultrastucturally recognizable plastids were found in mature cells. Maternal transmission of the triazine resistance factor thus appears to be due to a selective destruction of paternal plastids.     

Triazine resistance in biotypes of Solanum nigrum and four Amaranthus species found in Spain

Triazine-resistant (R) biotypes of Amaranthus albus L. (tumble pigweed), A. blitoides S. Wats. (prostrate pigweed), A. hybridus L. (smooth pigweed), A. retroflexus (redroot pigweed), and Solanum nigrum L. (black nightshade) were found in Spain. The former two R biotypes were found in simazine-treated, non-tilled olive orchards, whereas the latter three came from atrazine-treated maize (Zea mays L.) crops. All R biotypes survived at rates up to 5.0 kg ha^?1 of soil-incorporated atrazine or simazine, whereas their susceptible (S) or ‘wild type’ counterparts were completely controlled at levels of 0.25 kg ha^?1 atrazine, in the case of A. hybridus, A. retroflexus and S. nigrum, and 2.5 kg ha^?1 in the case of A. albus and A. blitoides. The higher tolerance to triazines of these latter S biotypes appears to be attributable to herbicide detoxification. Photosynthetic electron transport in R biotypes was little affected by atrazine and simazine, but was inhibited by diuron, as shown by fluorescence induction measurements in whole leaves. In Hill reaction assays, the R biotypes showed a high level of resistance to atrazine and simazine (resistance factors in the range 350–900), and very slight resistance to diuron (resistance factors in the range 1.1–1.6). It is concluded that all R biotypes have evolved a chloroplastic mode of resistance similar to that previously described for other triazine-resistant weed biotypes. Résistances aux triazines des biotypes de Solanum nigrum et 4 espèces d'Amaranthus trousiées en Espagne Des biotypes résistant aux triazines (R) d'Amaranthus albus L., d'A. blitoïdes S. Wats, d'A. hybrydus et d'A. retroflexus et de Solanum nigrum L. ont été trouvés en Espagne. Les 2 premiers biotypes (R) ont été trouvés dans des oliveraies non labourées traitées à la simazine, tandis que les 3 derniers viennent de cultures de maïs traitées à l'atrazine. Tout les biotypes R ont survécu à des doses jusqu'à 5 kg ha^?1 d'atrazine ou de simazine incorporée au sol tandis que leurs équivalents sensibles (S) ou ‘types sauvages’étaient complètement détruits à des doses de 0,25 kg ha^?1 d'atrazine dans le cas d'A. hybridus, A. retroflexus et S. nigrum et de 2,5 kg ha^?1 dans le cas d'A. albus et A. blitoïdes. La tolérance plus élevée aux triazines de ces 2 derniers biotypes apparaît être attribuable à la détoxification de l'herbicide. Le transport des d'électrons photosynthétiques dans les biotypes R a été peu affecté par l'atrazine et la simazine mais a été inhibé par le diuron, comme l'ont montré des mesures d'induction de fluorescence dans des feuilles entières. Dans des essais de réaction de Hill, les biotypes R ont exprimé une haute résistance à l'atrazine et à la simazine (facteurs de résistance de 350 à 900) et une très faible résistance du diuron (facteurs de résistance de 1,1 à 1,6). Il est conclu que tous les biotypes R ont développé un mode de résistance chloroplastiques identique à celui déjà décrit par d'autres biotypes d'adventices résistant aux triazines. Triazinresistenz bei Biotypen von Solanum nigrum und vier Amaranthus-Arten in Spanien Triazinresistente Biotypen (R) von Amaranthus albus L. (Weißer Amarant), A. blitoides S. Watson (Westamerikanischer A.), A. hybridus L. (Grünähriger A.), A. retroflexus L. (Zurückgekrümmter A.) und Solanum nigrum L. (Schwarzer Nachtschatten) wurden in Spanien gefunden. Die ersten beiden R-Biotypen stammten aus Simazin-behandelten Olivengärten ohne Bodenbearbeitung, die drei anderen von Atrazin-behandeltem Mais (Zea mays L.). Alle R-Biotypen ertrugen biszu 5,0kg ha^?1 Atrazin oder Simazin, in den Boden eingcarbeitet, während empfindliche (S) oder ‘wilde’ Pflanzen mit 0,25 kg ha^?1 Atrazin (A. hybridus, A. retroflexus, S. nigrum) und 2,5 kg ha^?1 (A. albus, A. blitoides) bekämpfbar waren. Die höhere Triazintoleranz der beiden letzten Arten ist wahrscheinlich, auf eine Herbizidde-toxifikation zurückzuführen. Der photosynthetische Elektronentransport in den R-Biotypen wurde durch Atrazin und Simazin nur wenig beeinflußt, durch Diuron jedoch unterbunden, wie durch Messungen der Fluoreszenzinduktion der ganzen Blätter gefunden wurde. Bei der Untersuchung der Hill-Reaktion wurde bei den R-Biotypen für Simazin und Atrazin Resistenzfaktoren zwischen 900 und 350 festgestellt, für Diuron aber nur kleine Faktoren (1,1 bis 1,6). Daraus wurde geschlossen, daß alle R-Biotypen eine chloroplastische Resistenz entwickelt haben, wie sie schon früher für andere Triazin-resistente Unkrautbiotypen beschrieben worden ist.     

Pirimiphos‐methyl in the control of Psara bipunctalis F. on Amaranthus cruentus in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Psara bipunctalis F. (Lepidoptera. Pyralidae) has been identified as a serious defoliating insect pest of Amaranthus cruentus in the southern part of Nigeria. A brief life cycle study carried out at ambient temperature of 28 C showed four different larval instars with pre‐pupal and pupal stages all lasting between 21 and 22 days. Three concentrations of primiphos‐methyl were evaluated for the control of P. bipunctalis in the field. Pirimiphos‐methyl at 0.57 kg/ha a.i. gave the optimal control of this defoliator.     

Negative cross-resistance between dihydropyrazole insecticides and pyrethroids in houseflies, Musca domestica

A series of insecticidal dihydropyrazoles and related compounds have been shown to exhibit negative cross-resistance to a resistant (super-kdr) strain of houseflies with site-insensitivity to pyrethroids. The level of cross-resistance is similar to that observed previously for a range of N-alkylamides against the same strain.     

Fitness effects of the triazine resistance mutation in Amaranthus hybridus: relative fitness in maize and soyabean crops

Fitness costs of the triazine resistance mutation were estimated in experimental populations of Amaranthus hybridus L. from Maryland and Virginia (USA). Estimated costs were attributed directly to effects of the resistance mutation, through comparisons of lines bearing similar nuclear genomes, but either resistant or susceptible cytoplasm. Experimental weed plants were established from seed in the field at a wide range of A. hybridus and crop (maize or soyabean) densities, and experiments were repeated over 3 years. Resistant cytoplasm caused large reductions in several components of fitness, but substantial differences were observed among years in these fitness costs of resistance. For the fitness component of total biomass above-ground biomass production, relative fitnesses of resistant genotypes (resistant/susceptible ratios) ranged between 0.42 and 0.70. Costs of resistance were similar in weeds growing with either maize or soyabean crops. Certain costs of resistance differed between populations: impairment of seedling establishment and early growth by the resistance mutation was evident in the Virginia population, but not in the Maryland population. This functional difference between populations was associated with greater costs of resistance in the Virginia population with respect to mid-season leaf number and total above-ground biomass production; however, only the former population difference in fitness cost was statistically significant.     

Negative cross-resistance to N-phenylanilines in benzimidazole- resistant strains of Botrytis cinerea,Venturia nashicola and Venturia inaequalis

A new series of compounds with high contra-selective activity against benomyl-resistant fungal strains was found among ring-substituted N-phenyl-anilines. Hydrophobic substitution in one of the benzene rings, together with the secondary amine character of the molecule, are important factors for high fungitoxicity. The sensitivities of benomyl-resistant isolates to some representatives of the N-phenylanilines equal or even surpass their sensitivity to diethofencarb or MDPC. The negative cross-resistance with benzimdazole fungicides is valid for strains of Botrytis cinerea, Venturia nashicola and Venturia inaequalis. The strains of B. cinerea with double insensitivity to benzimidazoles and phenyl-carbamates are insensitive also to N-phenylanilines. However, the similarly double-insensitive strain of V. nashicola was found to be just as sensitive to the N-phenylanilines tested as the strain resistant only to benzimidazoles. The latter result revealed an important bonus compared with diethofencarb. Preventive application of one of the most active representatives of the N-phenylanilines to young cucumber plants was effective against infection with benomyl-resistant isolates of B. cinerea. Moderate apical translocation after root-dipping was also observed.     

Negative cross-resistance of benzimidazole-resistant strains of Botrytis cinerea,Fusarium nivale and Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides to various pesticides

Among benzimidazole-resistant strains ofFusarium nivale andPseudocercosporella herpotrichoides negative cross-resistance to N-phenylcarbamates like barban or chlorpropham was more common than to diethofencarb. Such differences were also observed with N-methylcarbamate or organophosphorus insecticides and with triazine herbicides. Several compounds belonging to these various groups of pesticides were highly toxic against the most common benzimidazole-resistant isolates ofBotrytis cinerea. They were not active, however, against isolates recently found in French vineyards that were treated with a mixture of diethofencarb and carbendazim. Some diphenylether derivatives seemed to be effective against all the benzimidazole-resistant phenotypes of this fungus.     

Effects of chloroacetamides and phytosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides on growth and photosynthesis in sunflower (Helianthus animus L.) and Amaranthus hybridus L.

The effects of the chloroacetamide herbicides acetochlor, alachlor and propachlor and the pho-tosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides linuron, prometryn and terbutryn on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and atrazine-sensitive and -resistant Amaranthus hybridus L. biotypes were investigated under laboratory conditions. Sunflower tolerated all three chloroacetamides in pre-emergence applications of 1.5–5.0 kg a.i. ha^?1 in growth assays. Sunflower also survived doses of 0.5–1.0 kg a.i. ha^?1 of linuron, prometryn and terbutryn, although growth reduction and chlorosis of treated plants was observed. These three herbicides inhibited photosynthetic electron transport in in vitro Hill reaction and fluorescence assays and, with terbutryn, photosynthesis recovered upon transfer of the leaves from herbicide solutions to water. The practical significance of these results for the control of weeds in sunflower cultivation in Spain are discussed. Effets d'herbicides chloroacétamides et d'herbi-cides inhibiteurs de la photosynthèse sur la crois-sance et la photosynthèse du tournesol (Helianthus annuus L.) et de Amaranthus hybridus L. Les effets des herbicides chloroacétamides acétochlor, alachlor et propachlor ainsi que des herbicides inhibiteurs de la photosynthèse linuron, prometryne et terbutryne, ont étéétudiés sur le tournesol (Helianthus annuus L.) et sur des biotypes sensibles et résistants d'Amaranthus hybridus L. en conditions de laboratoire. La croissance du tournesol n'était affectée par au-cun des trois chloroacétamides appliqués en prélevée (1,5–5,0 kg m.a. ha^?1). Le linuron, la terbutryne et la prometryne (0,5–1,0 kg m.a. ha^?1) occasionnaient des réductions de croissance et des chloroses sur le tournesol mais les plantes survivaient. Ces trois herbicides in-hibaient le transport d'électrons photosyn-thétique observé par des mesures de fluorescence et, in vitro par la réaction de Hill. Dans le cas de la terbutryne, la photosynthèse reprenait après transfert des feuilles des solutions d'herbicides dans 1'eau. La signification pratique de ces résultats pour la lutte contre les mauvaises herbes du tournesol en Espagne est discutée. Wirkung von Chloracetamiden und Photosyn-these-hemmenden Herbiziden auf Wachstum und Photosynthese der Sonnenblume (Helianthus annuus L.) und Amaranthus hybridus L. Die Wirkung der Chloracetamid-Herbizide Acetochlor, Alachlor und Propachlor und der Photosynthese-hemmenden Herbizide Linuron, Prometryn und Terbutryn auf die Sonnenblume (Helianthus annuus L.) und Atrazin-empfindliche sowie-unempfindl Amaranthus-hybridus-Biotypen wurde unter Laborbedin-gungen untersucht. In Wachstumstests tolerierte die Sonnenblume alle 3 Chloracetamide bei Vorauflaufanwendung von 1,5 bis 5,0 kg AS ha^?1. Auch Dosen von 0,5 bis 1,0 kg AS ha^?1 von Linuron, Prometryn und Terbutryn wurden vertragen, aber der Wuchs war beeinträchtig, und Chlorosen wurden beobachtet. Diese 3 Herbizide hemmten den photosynthetischen Elektronentransport bei Versuchen zur Invitro-Hill-Reaktion und Fluoreszenz, und bei Terbutryn stellte sich die Photosynthese nach Überführen der Blätter von der Herbizidlösung auf Wasser wieder ein. Die praktische Bedeutung dieser Ergebnisse für die Unkrautbekämpfung in Sonnenblumenkulturen in Spanien wird diskutiert.     

Atrazine metabolism in resistant and susceptible biotypes of Chenopodium album L., Chenopodium strictum Roth., and Amaranthus powellii S. Wats.

The metabolism of atrazine was studied in resistant and susceptible biotypes of Chenopodium album L., Chenopodium strictum Roth., and Amaranthus powellii S. Wats. Both biotypes metabolized atrazine by N-dealkylation, hydroxy lation at the 2-position and conjugation. In addition, binding of mono-N-dealkylated atrazine with plant constituents to form nonextractable (bound) residues was also observed. Although parent atrazine levels were similar in the shoots and roots of both biotypes of the three weed species, the resistant biotype in each case contained a higher level of polar conjugates and bound residues in the plant tissues. In contrast, presence of a phytotoxic metabolite, namely 2-chloro-4-amino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine, was only observed in the susceptible biotype of the three weed species.     

广西灵川等4地刺苋和反枝苋对草甘膦的敏感性

刺苋和反枝苋在广西各地农田均有分布,综合运用培养皿种子检测法、整株生物测定法对广西4个不同地点的刺苋和反枝苋种群进行草甘膦敏感性测定。结果表明,桂林灵川的刺苋和桂林兴安的反枝苋对草甘膦表现出敏感性下降的情况。同时,使用生化指标测定法检测的植株体内莽草酸含量变化情况与其敏感性变化趋势基本一致。     

Contribution of ammonium to stimulation of smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus L.) germination by extracts of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) residue

Hairy vetch is a leguminous winter annual cover crop that provides a significant contribution toward meeting the nitrogen requirement of succeeding crops. Hairy vetch residue is capable of suppressing weeds, but low levels of residue can intermittently stimulate the emergence of weeds, particularly smooth pigweed. This research was conducted to assess the inhibitory and stimulatory effects of hairy vetch extracts on two smooth pigweed lots with differing dormancy conditions under differing germination conditions (25 or 35°C in light or dark). Full-strength extracts inhibited germination of both lots under all conditions, a result explained by the inhibitory osmotic potential of the full-strength extract. At ≤ 0.1× proportions of the hairy vetch extract, there was a slight stimulation of germination above that of the control (average = 11%) of both lots of pigweed under all germination conditions, except for a large stimulation (87%) by the more dormant lot at 25°C in light. A similar response to ammonium hydroxide solutions was observed, in which germination stimulation averaged 7% for all conditions except for germination of the dormant pigweed lot that was stimulated 115% by 15 p.p.m. of ammonium (     ) at 25°C in light. As the     concentration in the hairy vetch extract was similar to that in the ammonium hydroxide solutions that promoted the largest stimulation of germination, and because there was a high correlation between the degree of germination stimulation by hairy vetch extracts and by ammonium hydroxide,     appears to be the principle ingredient in the extract responsible for stimulation of smooth pigweed germination.     

Time effect on bentazone sorption and degradation in soil

Previous sorption/desorption batch experiments have indicated that bentazone is weakly sorbed by soils. In addition, field experiments have shown that 4% of the bentazone sprayed can be leached to drainage water. In order to complete bentazone characterisation, we have assessed the effect of time on its behaviour in contrasting soils. In laboratory studies, bentazone was added to three topsoils (sandy, loamy and clay soils). Bentazone degradation, sorption/desorption kinetics and isotherm measurements were carried out at different times. At 160 days after treatment, bentazone mineralisation amounts varied from 2.1% (sandy soil) to 14% (clay soil). The extractable amounts became lower (from 97% after treatment to 12% after 160 days for the clay soil) and a greater number of desorption series was needed to obtain these products. Nevertheless, at the end of the experiments, a small amount of bentazone was still extracted by water. At the same time, bound residues of bentazone reached 65% in clay soil. Statistical analysis indicated effects of both residence time and soil type on bentazone behaviour.     

Degradation of isoproturon and bentazone in peat- and compost-based biomixtures

BACKGROUND: The composition and properties of a biomixture used in a biobed are decisive for pesticide sorption and degradation. This study was performed to investigate the capability of compost‐based substrates in mixtures with citrus peel and vine branch straw and peat‐based substrates in mixtures with soil and vine branch straw at different levels in order to degrade isoproturon and bentazone. RESULTS: Dissipation and mineralisation rates of both pesticides were determined, and metabolic activity was followed as respiration. Compost‐based substrates showed faster pesticide dissipation in the presence of lignocellulosic materials, as in garden compost and vine branch straw. The increasing content of vine branch straw in peat‐based substrates does not seem to affect dissipation of the parent compounds. Low mineralisation rate was observed in all treatments. CONCLUSION: Higher pesticide degradation was observed in the lignocellulosic substrates, probably because of the development of lignin‐degrading microorganisms which have shown to be robust and are able to degrade recalcitrant pesticides. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Rate of transformation of atrazine and bentazone in water-saturated sandy subsoils

When pesticides leach through the soil to the upper groundwater zone, it is important to know whether further transformation occurs before the pumping wells for drinking water are reached. Atrazine and bentazone were incubated (at 10°C) in five water-saturated sandy subsoils (collected at depths between 1·5 and 3·5 m), simulating the conditions in the field. In three subsoils with comparatively low pH and intermediate to high redox potential, atrazine was transformed gradually, to leave 1·9%, 6·2% and 17·5% of the dose after about five years. In one of these subsoils, hydroxy-atrazine was detected; the amount corresponded to half of the dose of atrazine. In one anaerobic subsoil with high pH, the transformation of atrazine was comparatively fast (half-life about 0·15 year). Another anaerobic subsoil, with similar pH and a somewhat higher redox potential, however, showed hardly any transformation. Sterilization of the first anaerobic subsoil had no effect on the rate of transformation. In the course of about five years, bentazone in the first three subsoils was transformed gradually to leave <0·25%, 11% and 25% of the dose. Bentazone transformation in the two subsoils with high pH and low redox potential was very slow, but the presence of oxygen in one of these subsoils speeded up the transformation. © 1998 SCI