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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2017
Fresh weight reductions of greenhouse-grown soybeans and corn treated with post-emergence thifensulfuron at 4.4 g ai ha−1 were synergistically enhanced when the herbicide was mixed with formulated chlorpyrifos or malathion insecticides, but the enhancement was not observed with formulated methomyl insecticide. Thifensulfuron plus formulants of either chlorpyrifos or malathion reduced fresh weights no more than did the herbicide applied alone. Growth rate of hydroponically grown soybeans was reduced by root-applied thifensulfuron in combination with a foliar-applied formulation of chlorpyrifos or malathion, but not methomyl. Postemergence-applied thifensulfuron reduced the growth rate of hydroponically grown soybeans and corn with chlorpyrifos, malathion, or methomyl applied postemergence 1 d before thifensulfuron and with procedures identical to those used for absorption, translocation, and metabolism experiments. None of the insecticides applied 1 d before thifensulfuron altered foliar absorption of 14C-thifensulfuron or its translocation in unifoliolate soybeans or three-leaf corn. Thin-layer chromatography of soybean extracts revealed one primary thifensulfuron metabolite, presumably the deesterified free acid. 14C-thifensulfuron metabolism in corn produced about five unidentified metabolites in appreciable amounts. Levels of unmetabolized 14C-thifensulfuron 24 h after herbicide application were highest in insecticide-treated soybeans and corn. Over all experiments, enhancement of injury and inhibition of thifensulfuron metabolism generally were greatest in soybeans with chlorpyrifos but were greatest in corn with chlorpyrifos or malathion. Synergistic enhancement of thifensulfuron injury to soybeans and corn by chlorpyrifos and malathion appears to result from insecticide inhibition of thifensulfuron detoxication.