Photolysis of imidacloprid (NTN 33893) on the leaf surface of tomato plants

The photolytic behaviour of the insecticide imidacloprid on the surface of tomato leaves as a result of exposure to natural sunlight was investigated. Photodegradation in sunlight was rapid and the degradation products (⩾10%) were similar to those found in plant degradation studies.     

Pesticides-induced depression of photosynthesis was alleviated by 24-epibrassinolide pretreatment in Cucumis sativus L

The phytotoxicities of nine pesticides (paraquat, fluazifop-p-butyl, haloxyfop, flusilazole, cuproxat, cyazofamid, imidacloprid, chlorpyrifos, and abamectin) at practical dosages on photosynthesis were investigated in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Jinyan No. 4) by gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescent measurements. Plants treated with paraquat showed the severest phytotoxic symptom with the highest reduction in net photosynthetic rate (Pn), while other pesticides except flusilazole inhibited Pn to various degrees. The inhibition of Pn by cuproxat was accompanied by declines both in stomatal conductance (Gs) and intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci), whereas decreased Pn for the cyazofamid was associated with increased Ci. For other 6 pesticides, however, inhibition of Pn was accompanied by decrease in Gs, while Ci was increased or unaffected. Paraquat almost completely inhibited the maximal quantum efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m), while other pesticides had no significant effect on F_v/F_m. Quantum efficiency of PSII (Φ_PSII) was significantly reduced by paraquat, fluazifop-p-butyl, and chlorpyrifos and the reduction was mostly attributed to decrease in photochemical quenching coefficient (qP). In comparison, Φ_PSII was not significantly affected by haloxyfop, flusilazole, cyazofamid, imidacloprid, and abamectin. Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) was suppressed by paraquat and haloxyfop, while apparent upregulation was evident after exposure to other pesticides. Interestedly, inhibitions of Pn were alleviated by 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) pretreatment, as for the pesticides examined in this study except paraquat and flusilazole. EBR pretreatment also increased Φ_PSII and qP. It is likely that EBR enhanced the resistance of cucumber seedlings to pesticides by increasing CO₂ assimilation capacity and activities of antioxidant enzymes.     

Pesticide-mediated homeostatic modulation in arthropods

The term hormesis was coined to describe a phenomenon where exposure to high levels of stressors is inhibitory whereas low (mild, sublethal, and subtoxic) doses are stimulatory. The stimulatory effects are believed to be the result of compensatory biochemical processes following a destabilization of normal homeostasis. Exposure of arthropods to mild levels of chemical stressors (i.e., pesticides) may result in enhanced reproduction that has been associated along with other factors with pest outbreaks and resurgences. Hormesis, however, cannot be claimed for cases in which the observed stimulatory effects were due to exposure of non-target pests (i.e., mites) to pesticides (DDT, carbaryl, insecticidal pyrethroids or imidacloprid). Pesticides applied to non-target pests cannot be regarded as stressors since inhibition or mortality at very high doses can hardly be observed and measured. Pesticide-induced homeostatic modulation (PIHM) is suggested as a broader term to include both hormesis and stimulatory effects of pesticides on non-target pests. The specific role played by PIHM in inducing pest outbreaks in agroecosystems is difficult to evaluate as other complex environmental factors are most likely involved. The time factor is significant where applied pesticides undergo physical dissipation as well as biological, chemical, and/or photochemical modifications. A delay in outbreaks may be anticipated as arthropod pests exposed to effective residues and degradation products will be subjected to PIHM resulting in enhanced reproduction. Knowledge about hormesis and PIHM has practical aspects for designing pest control strategies and pest resistance management practices.     

农药在液相中的光解研究进展

液相光解是农药光解研究较为广泛的一个领域。通过归纳国内外学者在液相中农药降解方面的研究报道,综述了影响液相中农药光解的不同因素,包括光源、温度、溶剂、pH、光敏剂和光猝灭剂等,分析了农药在水体中光解产物的分离和鉴定,并讨论了农药光解的意义,提出了该领域存在的问题和今后的研究趋势。     

Absorption, translocation and metabolism of metamitron in Chenopodium album

BACKGROUND: In recent years, common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) populations from sugar beet fields in different European countries have responded as resistant to the as‐triazinone metamitron. The populations have been found to have the same D1 point mutation as known for atrazine‐resistant biotypes (Ser₂₆₄ to Gly). However, pot experiments revealed that metamitron resistance is not as clear‐cut as observed with triazine resistance in the past. The objectives of this study were to clarify the absorption, translocation and metabolic fate of metamitron in C. album. RESULTS: Root absorption and foliar absorption experiments showed minor differences in absorption, translocation and metabolism of metamitron between the susceptible and resistant C. album populations. A rapid metabolism in the C. album populations was observed when metamitron was absorbed by the roots. The primary products of metamitron metabolism were identified as deamino‐metamitron and metamitron‐N‐glucoside. PABA, known to inhibit the deamination of metribuzin, did not alter the metabolism of metamitron, and nor did the cytochrome P450 inhibitor PBO. However, inhibition of metamitron metabolism in the presence of the cytochrome P450 inhibitor ABT was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: Metamitron metabolism in C. album may act as a basic tolerance mechanism, which can be important in circumstances favouring this degradation pathway. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Spatial variability in 14C-herbicide degradation in surface and subsurface soils

The spatial variability in mineralization of atrazine, isoproturon and metamitron in soil and subsoil samples taken from a 135-ha catchment in north France was studied. Fifty-one samples from the top layer were taken to represent exhaustively the 31 agricultural fields and 21 soil types of the catchment. Sixteen additional samples were collected between depths of 0.7 and 10 m to represent the major geological materials encountered in the vadose zone of the catchment. All these samples were incubated with 14C-labelled atrazine under laboratory conditions at 28 degrees C. Fourteen selected surface samples which exhibited distinctly different behaviour for atrazine dissipation (including sorption and mineralization) were incubated with 14C-isoproturon and 14C-metamitron. Overall soil microbial activity and specific herbicide degradation activities were monitored during the incubations through measurements of total carbon dioxide and 14C-carbon dioxide respectively. At the end of the incubations, extractable and non-extractable (bound) residues remaining in soils were measured. Variability of herbicide dissipation half-life in soil surface samples was lower for atrazine and metamitron (CV < 12%) than for isoproturon (CV = 46%). The main contributor to the isoproturon dissipation variability was the variability of the extractable residues. For the other herbicides, spatial variability was mainly related to the variability of their mineralization. In all cases, herbicide mineralization half-lives showed higher variability than those of dissipation. Sorption or physicochemical soil properties could not explain atrazine and isoproturon degradation, whose main factors were probably directly related to the dynamics of the specific microbial degradation activity. In contrast, variability of metamitron degradation was significantly correlated to sorption coefficient (K(d)) through correlation with the sorptive soil components, organic matter and clay. Herbicide degradation decreased with depth as did the overall microbial activity. Atrazine mineralization activity was found down to a depth of 2.5 m; beyond that, it was negligible.     

三种新烟碱类杀虫剂在土壤中的残留降解及影响因子

建立了吡虫啉、啶虫脒和噻虫嗪在土壤中的高效液相色谱-串联质谱（HPLC-MS/MS）检测方法。样品经乙腈提取和QuEChERS法净化后,采用HPLC-MS/MS检测,外标法定量,在0.01~1.0 mg/kg添加水平下,3种新烟碱类杀虫剂在土壤中的回收率在89%~103%之间,相对标准偏差（RSD）在1.3%~10.3%之间,定量限均为0.01 mg/kg。采用建立的方法,在室内模拟条件下,研究了土壤微生物、温度、土壤含水量及农药初始浓度对土壤中吡虫啉、啶虫脒和噻虫嗪降解的影响。结果表明:土壤微生物是影响农药残留降解的首要因素,灭菌处理土壤中农药残留降解速率明显低于非灭菌土壤。此外,环境温度、土壤含水量、初始浓度等因素也会对农药残留降解产生不同影响,土壤含水量为最大持水量的60%左右时降解最快,半衰期分别为15.6、7.2和25.8 d;农药初始浓度越高,降解速度越慢;在5~35℃范围内,随着温度的升高,降解速度加快。     

Effects of microbial inhibitors on the degradation rates of metamitron,metazachlor and metribuzin in soil

Rates of carbon dioxide evolution and degradation rates of metamitron, metazachlor and metribuzin were measured in two soils in the presence of three microbial inhibitors. The nonselective microbial inhibitor sodium azide reduced both carbon dioxide evolution and the rate of loss of all three herbicides in both soils, although the reduction in degradation rate of metamitron was small. The antibacterial antibiotic novobiocin enhanced carbon dioxide evolution from both soils but had variable effects on the rates of herbicide degradation. It inhibited degradation of metazachlor and metribuzin, and in one of the soils its effects on metazachlor degradation were similar to those of sodium azide. Novobiocin inhibited degradation of metamitron to a small extent in one soil only. The antifungal antibiotic cycloheximide also enhanced carbon dioxide evolution from both soils. In general, its effects on herbicide degradation were similar to those of novobiocin, although the extent of inhibition was usually less pronounced. The results are discussed in terms of the relative involvement of microorganisms in degradation of the three herbicides.     

农田尾菜发酵过程中农药残留变化特征

基于尾菜中存在农药残留的现状,以设施农业尾菜黄瓜秧为研究对象,采用气相色谱法和超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法检测了尾菜黄瓜秧在静态好氧发酵过程中多菌灵、吡虫啉、哒螨灵等50种农药残留的动态变化,并分析发酵重要影响因子堆高对农药残留消解的影响。结果表明:在尾菜黄瓜秧中共检测出腐霉利、多菌灵、嘧菌酯、苯醚甲环唑、烯酰吗啉、虫螨腈、吡虫啉、啶虫脒和哒螨灵9种农药残留,其中多菌灵平均残留量最高,达11.2 mg/kg,其他8种农药平均残留量在0.042~0.89 mg/kg之间。在发酵的24 d中,不同堆高条件下9种农药的消解规律均符合一级反应动力学方程,但不同农药半衰期差异较大,其中吡虫啉的平均半衰期最长,为28.9 d,多菌灵的平均半衰期最短,为10.2 d;不同堆高处理中农药的消解速率也有差异,总体上在2.5 m堆高下各农药的消解率最高、半衰期最短。本研究结果可为尾菜发酵参数优化、农业废弃物的高效资源化利用以及研发基于尾菜发酵产物的有机蔬菜专用有机肥提供理论支撑。     

Variation of pesticide sorption isotherm in soil at the catchment scale

The variation of the sorption isotherm of pesticides has seldom been explored at the catchment scale. Such a study was conducted at the scale of a 187-ha agricultural catchment for three herbicides: atrazine, isoproturon and metamitron. Partition coefficient (Kd) values were measured in batch experiments on 51 topsoil samples, and showed moderate variability at the catchment scale (coefficient of variation CV approximately 30%). Values of Kd ranged from 0.47 to 1.70 litre kg(-1) for atrazine, 0.47 to 1.81 for isoproturon, and 0.55 to 2.21 for metamitron. A clustering method was used to reduce the number of samples on which to measure sorption isotherms to 14. Sorption isotherms agreed with the Freundlich rather than the linear model. Kf parameters had CV values similar to those for Kd, with values ranging from 0.78 to 2.13 mg(1 - Nf) litre(Nf) kg(-1) for atrazine, 0.61 to 1.82 for isoproturon, and 0.69 and 2.58 for metamitron. Nf exponents showed little variation (CV < 5%). Nf values were between 0.86 and 0.98 for atrazine, 0.85 and 0.90 for isoproturon, and 0.82 and 0.87 for metamitron. More than 97% of the Kf catchment-scale variations could be explained by the variations of the soil organic carbon content.     

Determination of sugarbeet herbicides in soil samples by hplc

Determination of sugarbeet herbicides such as chloridazon, metamitron and phenmedipham in soil samples is described. After extraction with acetone, pesticides were determined by HPLC on an RP-18 column using methanol/water as mobile phase. Average recoveries were 82% for chloridazon, 93% for metamitron and 77% for phenmedipham. Quantification limits were 3·5 μg kg^?1 for chloridazon, 6·3 μg kg^?1 for metamitron and 3·6 μg kg^?1 for phenmedipham.     

Adsorption and degradation of four acidic herbicides in soils from southern Spain

BACKGROUND: Pesticide degradation and adsorption in soils are key processes determining whether pesticide use will have any impact on environmental quality. Pesticide degradation in soil generally results in a reduction in toxicity, but some pesticides have breakdown products that are more toxic than the parent compound. Adsorption to soil particles ensures that herbicide is retained in the place where its biological activity is expressed and also determines potential for transportation away from the site of action. Degradation and adsorption are complex processes, and shortcomings in understanding them still restrict the ability to predict the fate and behaviour of ionisable pesticides. This paper reports the sorption and degradation behaviour of four acidic pesticides in five soils from southern Spain. Results are used to investigate the influence of soil and pesticide properties on adsorption and degradation as well as the potential link between the two processes. RESULTS: Adsorption and degradation of four acidic pesticides were measured in four soils from Spain characterised by small organic matter (OM) contents (0.3-1.0%) and varying clay contents (3-66%). In general, sorption increased in the order dicamba < metsulfuron-methyl < 2,4-D < flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium. Both OM and clay content were found to be important in determining adsorption, but relative differences in clay content between soils were much larger than those in OM content, and therefore clay content was the main property determining the extent of herbicide adsorption for these soils. pH was negatively correlated with adsorption for all compounds apart from metsulfuron-methyl. A clear positive correlation was observed for degradation rate with clay and OM content (P < 0.01), and a negative correlation was observed with pH (P < 0.01). The exception was metsulfuron-methyl, for which degradation was found to be significantly correlated only with soil bioactivity (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both OM and clay content were found to be important in determining adsorption, but relative differences in clay content between soils were much larger than those in OM content, and therefore clay content was the main property determining the extent of herbicide adsorption for soils of this type. pH was negatively correlated with adsorption for all compounds apart from metsulfuron-methyl. The contrasting behaviour shown for these four acidic pesticides indicates that chemical degradation in soil is more difficult to predict than adsorption. Most of the variables measured were interrelated, and different behaviours were observed even for compounds from the same chemical class and with similar structures.     

Cell death localization in situ in laboratory reared honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) larvae treated with pesticides

In this study, cell death detected by DNA fragmentation labeling and phosphatidylserine (PS) localization was investigated in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) midgut, salivary glands and ovaries after treating larvae with different pesticides offered via an artificial diet. To do this, honey bee larvae reared in an incubator were exposed to one of nine pesticides: chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, amitraz, fluvalinate, coumaphos, myclobutanil, chlorothalonil, glyphosate and simazine. Following this, larvae were fixed and prepared for immunohistologically detected cellular death using two TUNEL techniques for DNA fragmentation labeling and Annexin V to detect the localization of exposed PS specific in situ binding to apoptotic cells. Untreated larvae experienced ∼10% midgut apoptotic cell death under controlled conditions. All applied pesticides triggered an increase in apoptosis in treated compared to untreated larvae. The level of cell death in the midgut of simazine-treated larvae was highest at 77% mortality and statistically similar to the level of cell death for chlorpyrifos (65%), imidacloprid (61%), myclobutanil (69%), and glyphosate (69%) treated larvae. Larvae exposed to fluvalinate had the lowest midgut columnar apoptotic cell death (30%) of any pesticide-treated larvae. Indications of elevated apoptotic cell death in salivary glands and ovaries after pesticide application were detected. Annexin V localization, indicative of apoptotic cell deletion, had an extensive distribution in the midgut, salivary glands and ovaries of pesticide-treated larvae. The data suggest that the tested pesticides induced apoptosis in tissues of honey bee larvae at the tested concentrations. Cell death localization as a tool for a monitoring the subclinical and sub-lethal effects of external influences on honey bee larval tissues is discussed.     

不同基质和覆土栽培条件下双孢蘑菇中吡虫啉和咪鲜胺残留差异影响

为了明确吡虫啉和咪鲜胺在双孢蘑菇Agaricus bisporus不同栽培基质中的消解规律,采用在工厂化双孢蘑菇栽培覆土中拌料施药、培养料中喷药两种施药方式开展田间试验,运用QuEChERS净化前处理技术结合超高效液相色谱-串联质谱 (UPLC-MS/MS) 分析,检测了吡虫啉和咪鲜胺在双孢蘑菇栽培基质和子实体中的残留。结果表明:吡虫啉和咪鲜胺的消解规律均符合一级反应动力学方程;在常规覆土、草木灰土和椰糠土3种覆土中的消解半衰期,吡虫啉分别为 84.5、65.4 和68.6 d,咪鲜胺分别为23.5、17.7和19.0 d;在m (稻秸秆) : m (麦秸秆)=0 : 10 (CT1) 和2 : 8 (CT2) 两种培养料处理中的消解半衰期,吡虫啉分别为7.7 和8.0 d,咪鲜胺分别为10.9和12.8 d。两种农药在不同基质中的消解趋势相同,半衰期均表现为常规覆土 > 椰糠土 > 草木灰土,培养料CT2 > 培养料CT1。两种农药在不同处理下生长的双孢蘑菇三潮菇中均有检出,说明覆土和培养料中的农药会向双孢蘑菇中迁移。本研究初步揭示了吡虫啉和咪鲜胺在双孢蘑菇不同栽培基质中的消解规律,为工厂化双孢蘑菇中农药的规范使用及培养基质的合理选择提供了理论支持。     

Measurement and simulation of the movement of thiazafluron, clopyralid and metamitron in soil columns

Adsorption and leaching of the herbicides thiazafluron (1,3-dimethyl-1(5-trifluoromethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)urea), metamitron (4-amino-4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-6-phenyl-1,2,4-tri azin-5-one) and clopyralid (3,6-dichloropicolinic acid) were studied in one sandy and two silty-clay soils. Equilibrium adsorption coefficients (K_d) were measured using a batch equilibration procedure, and mobility was studied in repacked columns of the soils under fluctuating saturated/unsaturated flow conditions. Breakthrough curves (BTCs) were consistent with an inverse relationship between leaching and adsorption with greater mobility of the weakly-adsorbed clopyralid than the more strongly adsorbed thiazafluron or metamitron. The BTC data were used to evaluate the LEACHP simulation model. Following model calibration with respect to hydrological parameters and some of the herbicide degradation rates, the best fits between predicted and observed data were with the less adsorptive and highly mobile clopyralid. In general, the model gave acceptable predictions of the timing of the concentration maxima and the shapes of the BTCs, although earlier breakthrough than that observed was predicted with the less mobile herbicides, thiazafluron and metamitron, in the silty-clay soils. For metamitron, the total amounts leached were not predicted accurately, suggesting more rapid degradation of the herbicide in the soil columns than in the kinetic studies performed in a 1:1 soil:solution ratio shaken system.     

Soil microbial degradation of neonicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiacloprid and imidaclothiz and its effect on the persistence of bioefficacy against horsebean aphid Aphis craccivora Koch after soil application

BACKGROUND: The neonicotinoids imidacloprid, imidaclothiz, acetamiprid and thiacloprid consist of similar structural substituents but differ considerably with respect to soil use. Therefore, the effects of soil microbial activity on the degradation and bioefficacy persistence of the four neonicotinoids were evaluated. RESULTS: In unsterilised soils, 94.0% of acetamiprid and 98.8% of thiacloprid were degraded within 15 days, while only 22.5% of imidacloprid and 25.1% of imidaclothiz were degraded over a longer period of 25 days. In contrast, in sterilised soils, the degradation rates of acetamiprid and thiacloprid were respectively only 21.4% and 27.6%, whereas the degradation rates of imidaclothiz and imidacloprid were respectively 9.0% and almost 0% within 25 days. The degradation products of imidacloprid and imidaclothiz were identified as olefin, nitroso or guanidine metabolites, the degradation product of thiacloprid was identified as an amide metabolite and no degradation product of acetamiprid was detected. A bioefficacy assay revealed that the bioefficacy and persistence of imidacloprid, imidaclothiz, acetamiprid and thiacloprid against horsebean aphid A. craccivora were related to their degradation rate and the bioefficacy of their degradation products in soil. CONCLUSION: Soil microbial activity played a key role in the bioefficacy persistence of neonicotinoid insecticides and therefore significantly affected their technical profile after soil application. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Photolysis of dimepiperate in aqueous solution

Dimepiperate, S-(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl) piperidine-1-carbothioate ( I ) was degraded in aqueous solution by ultraviolet irradiation into piperidine ( II ), α-methylstyrene ( III ), acetophenone ( IV ), and formaldehyde ( V ). The reaction followed first-order kinetics. In sunlight the reaction occurred only in the presence of a sensitiser and afforded the same four photolytic degradation products. In the absence of oxygen the herbicide was converted much more rapidly, but yielded only ( II ) and ( III ) as products. A mechanism which accounts for the formation of the photoproducts is proposed.     

七种新烟碱类杀虫剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫及蚯蚓的选择毒力

为筛选出高效安全的韭蛆防治药剂,室内采用胃毒触杀联合毒力法比较了吡虫啉、啶虫脒、噻虫嗪、噻虫胺、呋虫胺、烯啶虫胺、噻虫啉与毒死蜱和高效氯氟氰菊酯等6种对照药剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫的毒力,同时用人工土壤法测定了13种药剂对蚯蚓的急性毒性,并通过盆栽试验验证了其对韭蛆和蚯蚓的选择毒力。结果表明,吡虫啉、噻虫胺、呋虫胺、噻虫啉、噻虫嗪对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊4龄幼虫的毒力明显高于6种对照药剂,对虫酰肼的相对毒力倍数分别为101.6、55.0、32.9、27.2、13.6;13种供试药剂中,除吡虫啉、啶虫脒、噻虫胺、呋虫胺对蚯蚓中等毒性外,其余均为低毒;盆栽试验中,吡虫啉、噻虫嗪、毒死蜱、噻唑膦、高效氯氟氰菊酯的防虫效果和保苗效果均分别高于其它药剂,但其中只有噻虫嗪对蚯蚓没有明显致死作用。     

基于推荐用量分析我国新烟碱类杀虫剂的登记现状

本文对目前中国农药信息网上公布登记的吡虫啉、烯啶虫胺、啶虫脒、噻虫啉、噻虫嗪、噻虫胺、呋虫胺、氯噻啉、哌虫啶、环氧虫啶等10种新烟碱类杀虫剂的信息进行了查询,分别从登记剂型、作物、防治靶标等方面对这10种杀虫剂的登记推荐有效成分用量情况进行了统计分析,最后,挑选用量范围最大的3种有效成分,5种作物,5种靶标进行组合,并对可能的18种组合进行了数据分析。结果发现:1)在防治草坪-蛴螬和甘蔗-蔗螟上,吡虫啉的有效成分用量要明显高于噻虫嗪和噻虫胺两种药剂,最高分别为2 100.00和1 500.00 g/hm~2;2)在防治韭菜-韭蛆上,噻虫嗪的有效成分用量要明显高于吡虫啉和噻虫胺,最高为1 732.50 g/hm~2;3)在防治小麦-蚜虫方面,吡虫啉的推荐有效成分用量范围最大(相差120倍),且偏高数值点最多;4)在防治水稻-飞虱上,同样是吡虫啉的偏高数值点最多。为减少农药施用,建议在病虫防治时推荐应用有效成分用量较低的农药类型(包括推荐有效成分用量更低的农药剂型和生物活性更高的农药有效成分)。未来农药登记用量将在农药最低有效剂量研究的基础上,针对不同药剂在不同作物的特定防治靶标提出更加科学、合理的推荐用量,为我国农药的合理减施提供科学依据。     

The fate of [3-14C]metamitron in sugar beets after preemergence application in a lysimeter study

In a lysimeter experiment, [3-¹⁴C]metamitron was sprayed in a preemergence treatment of sugar beets, corresponding to approx 4.9 kg metamitron (7 kg Goltix)/ha. After 6 months, the beets contained metamitron equivalents amounting to 0.1 mg/kg fresh wt, calculated on the basis of the specific radioactivity of the [3-¹⁴C]metamitron employed. Radioactivity was also detected in the pure sugar isolates. The ¹⁴C activity represented approx 0.2 mg metamitron equivalent/kg pure sugar. Since the specific radioactivities of the sugar fractions were too low to employ physicochemical methods, a microbial degradation was used to investigate whether the radiocarbon was incorporated in the sucrose molecule. Microorganisms (Proteus vulgaris) degraded [U-¹⁴C] sucrose and the sugar isolates at the same ¹⁴CO₂ release rates under strictly controlled experimental conditions. This result indicates that about one fourth of the carbon from the C-3 position of the triazine ring of the metamitron, found in the sugar beets at harvest time, is partly being used as a substrate in the production of sucrose possibly via assimilation of mineralized ¹⁴CO₂.