Phytotoxic compounds from plants and microorganisms represent a wide range of chemistries and mechanisms of action that have potential in the design and development of new herbicides. Although several natural products of higher plants have been patented as herbicides, none have been developed commercially. Many microbial products have been patented as herbicides and several have been or are being developed, including bialophos {L-2-amino-4-[(hydroxy)(methyl)phosphinoyl] -butyryl-L-alanyl-L-alanine} and glufosinate [L-2-amino-4-(hydroxyl)(methyl)(phosphinoyl)-butyric acid]. The new tools of molecular biology and biotechnology are making natural products more attractive alternatives in herbicide discovery programs.
