Absorption, translocation, and metabolism of propoxycarbazone-sodium in ALS-inhibitor resistant Bromus tectorum biotypes

Experiments were conducted to investigate the absorption, translocation, and metabolism of propoxycarbazone-sodium in acetolactate synthase-inhibitor resistant (AR and MR) and susceptible (AS and MS) Bromus tectorum biotypes. Absorption and translocation of C-14-propoxycarbazone-sodium were similar in all biotypes. One major and three minor metabolites were identified using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. In all biotypes, 80% of the propoxycarbazone-sodium was metabolized by 72h after treatment (HAT). However, propoxycarbazone-sodium was metabolized more rapidly in the MR biotype than in the other biotypes. The half-life of propoxycarbazone-sodium in the MR biotype was 8.9h, which was 30, 36, and 40% shorter than in the AS, AR, and MS biotypes, respectively. When C-14-propoxycarbazone-sodium was applied with I-aminobenzotriazole, a known cytochrome P450 inhibitor, metabolism decreased 20% 12 HAT in the MR biotype. These results indicate that resistance of the MR biotype to propoxycarbazone-sodium is due to a relatively rapid rate of propoxycarbazone-sodium metabolism compared to other B. tectorum biotypes and that cytochrome P450s may be involved in the metabolism. The fact that these populations evolved so quickly and with different resistance mechanisms is a concern as more ALS inhibitors are introduced into the production systems. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.