Accumulation of nitrite as influenced by fluchloralin and benthiocarb in two tropical weed species

Abstract

Fluchloralin (N propyl-N (2 chloromethyl-2,6-dinitro-4-trifluromethylaniline)), a dinitro-aniline type of herbicide having an inhibitory effect on light reaction, results in accumulation of higher levels of nitrite in light than in dark. In contrast, benthiocarb (S-(4-chlorobenzyl)-N-N-diethyl thiocarbamate), a non-photosynthetic herbicide and uncouplar of oxidative phosphorylation causes higher accumulation of nitrite in dark than in light in both test species. Thus the latter is effective on nitrate metabolism than on nitrite metabolism. The effect of herbicides onAcalypha is more pronounced than onTridax.