Translocation and Fate of Dicamba, Picloram, and Triclopyr in Horsenettle,Solanum carolinense

Abstract

Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the extent of translocation from the foliage to fleshy roots, the inherent toxicity, and the fate of radiolabeled and nonlabeled dicamba, picloram, and triclopyr in horsenettle. Roots of horsenettle acted as the major sink for photosynthate accumulation at the 0.2- to 0.5-bloom growth stages as determined by autoradiography. Dicamba, picloram, and triclopyr were translocated into the roots of horsenettle and accumulation continued for at least 16 days.14C associated with each herbicide found in the roots ranged from 1.3% at 4 days to 3.8% at 16 days. After 16 days, slightly more14C from plants treated with dicamba and triclopyr (3.8 and 3.6%) than picloram (3.0%) was translocated to roots. These compounds were metabolized slowly in the foliage and roots as determined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and autoradiography. In translocation studies with horsenettle shoots, picloram at 1.12 kg/ha killed the treated and untreated shoots and roots. Dicamba and triclopyr at the highest rates killed the treated shoots and partially destroyed the root system. Symptoms were noted on the untreated shoots, but full recovery occurred at 8 weeks. Since each of the herbicides was metabolized slowly and only slight differences in their translocation were observed, the relatively higher herbicidal effectiveness of picloram must be attributed to its greater inherent potency.