Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 January 2017
We examined the effect of a postemergence application of fluazifop-P on root uptake, translocation, and metabolism of 14C-terbacil in ‘Kent’ strawberry. Fluazifop-P had no effect on uptake of 14C-terbacil from a nutrient solution over 48 h, nor did it affect the proportional distribution of 14C-label in the plants. The 14C-label was readily translocated to the foliage where it tended to accumulate in vascular tissue. Fluazifop-P reduced the overall conversion of 14C-terbacil to metabolites by about 50%. Thin layer chromatography of methanol extracts of leaflets, petioles, crowns, and roots separated the 6-hydroxymethyl derivative, and several unidentified metabolites, including a major water-soluble metabolite at the origin. At least 50% of the latter could be converted to the 6-hydroxymethyl metabolite by β-glucosidase, but other metabolites could be separated in other solvent systems. The levels of metabolites were generally two- to threefold higher in plants treated with terbacil alone than in those pretreated with fluazifop-P. Therefore, we conclude that the interaction observed between these herbicides in the field results from fluazifop-P inhibiting detoxification of terbacil by strawberry.