Mode of Action of Naphthalic Acid as a Safener for Imazethapyr

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Abstract
The tolerance of maize to root-applied imazethapyr can be increased by pretreating plants with the potassium salt of naphthalic acid (NAK). This safening effect appears to be the result of NAK stimulating the ability of maize to rapidly metabolize imazethapyr to 5′-hydroxyethyl-imazethapyr, possibly through a mixed function oxidase. The safening effect of NAK can be antagonized by 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT), a mixed function oxidase inhibitor. The increased rate of hydroxylation of imazethapyr to 5′-hydroxyethyl-imazethapyr immobilizes the herbicide in the root system which decreases the accumulation of herbicide in the meristematic tissue. This decreased accumulation, in turn, lowers the phytotoxicity of imazethapyr on maize.

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