Abstract
The behavior of the herbicide Sethoxydim, (±)-2-(1-ethoxyiminobutyl)-5-[2-(ethylthio)-propyl]-3-hydroxycyclohex-2-enone, in sugar beets (Beta vulgaris) was investigated by leaf treatment of the [4-14C]-labeled compound. The 14C in treated leaves gradually decreased to 37% 7 days after application. Much of it was translocated to untreated leaves and a little to the root. The amount reached a maximum of 15.9% (9.7ppm as the parent compound) and 4.2% (13.4ppm), respectively, on day 3 after treatment, and then decreased to 0.02ppm or less at the final sampling on day 90. Sethoxydim was rapidly converted to its sulfoxide and sulfone, and their oxo-tetrahydrobenzoxazole and desethoxyl derivatives, and further to the conjugates of these compounds.
