Changes in free amino acid pools can predict the mode of action of herbicides

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Abstract
Studies were conducted to determine the short‐term changes in free amino acid levels in the meristematic zone of maize after treatment with various herbicides with different modes of action. These herbicides included inhibitors of various amino acid biosynthetic pathways, photosynthesis, and fatty acids biosynthesis. Inhibitors of various amino acid biosynthetic pathways caused specific reduction in the pools of amino acids being produced by the particular pathway. Inhibitors of other metabolic pathways also caused significant changes in pools of various amino acids. Very similar changes in the pools of amino acids were seen in plants treated with different chemical classes of inhibitors affecting a certain metabolic pathway. However, the changes were quite different between inhibitors of different metabolic processes. The data generated from these studies could be used as a diagnostic tool to determine the mode of action of novel herbicides.