| Abstract: | Molinate, a selective herbicide, is used for the control of annual and perennial weeds in rice paddy fields. This study was designed to assess the basis of the selective action of molinate between a susceptible broadleaf crop, tobacco, and a resistant graminaceous plant, rice. Experiments were conducted comparing plant growth under different concentrations of molinate, determining the absorption and translocation of the herbicide in the plant and identifying the metabolites in suspension cells. Rice showed greater tolerance to molinate than tobacco. Leaves of tobacco showed retarded and distorted growth at 10 mg liter-1 of molinate 14 days after treatment, but rice leaves were unaffected at this concentration. Higher concentrations of molinate accumulating in the root of tobacco seedlings may inhibit root development and represent a significant factor in the herbicide's selective action. Seven and eight metabolites were found in tobacco and rice cells, respectively, with molinate sulfoxide and molinate sulfone present in both species. © 1998 SCI |
