Herbicidal Potential of Rhizobitoxine

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Abstract
The bacterially produced phytotoxin 2-amino-4-(2-amino-3-hydroxypropoxy)-trans-3-butenoic acid (rhizobitoxine) was tested for herbicidal properties in comparison with 3-amino-s-triazole (amitrole) and 4-chloro-5-(dimethylamino)-2-(a,a,a,-trifluro-m-tolyl)-3(2H)-pyridazinone (metflurazone). In postemergence tests with various plant seedlings, rhizobitoxine and amitrole were approximately equal in phytotoxicity on a weight basis, and both were generally much more phytotoxic than metflurazone. Phytotoxicity of rhizobitoxine varied markedly among grass species. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ‘Hegari’) was very sensitive to rhizobitoxine, large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.) was moderately sensitive, wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ‘Thorne’) was tolerant, and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) was very tolerant. In contrast, amitrole was almost as phytotoxic to bluegrass as to large crabgrass, and metflurazone had little effect on either. In a preemergence test with mustard (Brassica japonica (L.) Coss. ‘Southern Giant Curled’) rhizobitoxine was as effective as amitrole, when compared on a molar basis, in inhibiting chlorophyll synthesis and root growth and was superior in retarding overall growth and development.