Uptake and Translocation of 14C-Fluazifop by Quackgrass (Agropyron repens)

Detached leaves and whole plants of quackgrass [Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. # AGRRE] were used to study uptake and translocation of butyl esters of 14C-fluazifop {(±)-2-[4-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl] oxy] phenoxy] propanoic acid}, with or without additional adjuvants. In the absence of adjuvants 3.2% of applied radioactivity entered detached quackgrass leaves by 6 h, and at the end of 24 h, 6.0% had penetrated. The presence of additives increased uptake by leaves significantly. In the presence of the nonionic surfactant Agral (nonyl phenol ethoxylate) at 0.2% (v/v) or the oil-additive Actipron (self-emulsifying adjuvant oil) at 2.0% (v/v), 17.2 and 12.9% of applied radioactivity, respectively, entered the leaves by 24 h. Evidence of dependence of phloem translocation of the radioactivity on source-sink relationships of the plant was obtained in the studies with whole plants. Translocation measured up to 7 days after treatment showed that radioactivity was concentrated in areas such as young developed leaves, young stems, and rhizome apices. Rhizomes appear to be major sinks for the accumulation of radioactivity and at 7 days 0.5% of applied radioactivity was found there. In wholeplant experiments the two adjuvants either individually or in mixture increased the uptake of 14C-fluazifop significantly. However, a corresponding increase in basipetal translocation was found only in one experiment. Much of the increased activity that had entered the leaves in the presence of adjuvants was found to have moved to areas distal to the treated zone or remained within the treated zones. In all experiments, applied 14C was not fully recovered. Evidence of significant volatility losses from treated surfaces was obtained and it is thought that this may be the main reason for the inability to recover all of the applied activity.