Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2017
Absorption and metabolism of 14C-3-amino-2,5-dichlorobenzoic acid (amiben) by six plant species were investigated for correlation with species sensitivity. Plant sensitivity was determined from amiben concentrations required to give 50% reduction of radicle extension of germinating seedlings and shoot dry weight of 10-day-old plants (I50). The I50 values showed that soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr., squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), and ivyleaf morningglory (Ipomoea hederacea (L.) Jacq.) were tolerant, cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) was intermediate and giant foxtail (Setaria faberii Herrm.) and velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) were susceptible. Neither the amount of amiben absorbed, the transport to shoots, the concentration of radioactivity soluble in methanol, nor the distribution of radioactivity among amiben, N-(3-carboxy-2,5-dichlorophenyl)-glucosylamine (hereinafter referred to as N-glucosyl amiben), and an unidentified amiben conjugate (amiben-X) was associated with species sensitivity in 11-day-old plants. In seedling tissues, neither the concentration of methanol-soluble nor methanol-insoluble radioactivity correlated with sensitivity. Highly significant correlations between the log percentage composition of amiben, amiben-X, and N-glucosyl amiben in the methanol-soluble fraction of seedlings and log I50 for radical elongation were obtained; the correlations were negative for amiben and amiben-X but positive for N-glucosyl amiben.