Uptake and metabolism of hexazinone in Rubus hispidus L. and Pyrus melanocarpa (Michx.) Willd

Rooted cuttings of Pyrus melanocarpa (Michx.) Willd. had a 3.5-fold greater tolerance to soil-applied hexazinone than those of Rubus hispidus L. in a greenhouse trial. R. hispidus accumulated four times more ¹⁴C-label in the foliage following root uptake of ¹⁴C-hexazinone than P. melano-carpa . Here, the greater uptake and susceptibility of R. hispidus was related to its greater root:fol-iage (weight) ratio compared to the tolerant P. melanocarpa . However, in whole plant metabolism studies employing younger plants there were no differences in ¹⁴C accumulation in the leaves. Here ¹⁴Chexazinone was converted to a number of hydroxylated and/or demethylated triazinone metabolites in both species following vacuum infiltration into leaf disks and root sections, or following root uptake in whole plants. A major difference in metabolism between the two species was the greater formation of the mono demethylated metabolite, B, 3-cyclohexyl-6-methylamino-l-methyl-l,3,5-triazine-2,4-dione] in P. melanocarpa which may also contribute to its greater tolerance. A loss of total ¹⁴Clabel from all plant parts with time may reflect cleavage of the ¹⁴C-ring-labelled herbicide.