Absorption of 14C-imazaquin by leaves of field-grown flue-cured tobacco was similar when applied to young seedlings immediately after transplanting or to plants 3 wk after transplanting. The distribution of 14C in treated leaves indicated that 40% was absorbed, 54% remained in water extracts of leaf surfaces, and 6% was found in the epicuticular wax layer 8 d after treatment. Translocation of the herbicide from treated leaves to roots was very low (4 to 5%). In contrast, soil applications of imazaquin and subsequent uptake by roots resulted in retention of 40 to 53% in roots and translocation of 47 to 60% to shoots after 8 d. Analyses of methanol-soluble extracts of 14C indicated that more than 77% of the foliar-applied herbicide was metabolized in roots and upper shoots after 2 d. Similarly, 64% or more of the imazaquin was degraded in roots and shoots 2 d after root absorption.

Carryover potential of imazaquin (0.14 kg ai ha−1), chlorimuron plus metribuzin (0.06 + 0.36 kg ha−1), and fomesafen (0.28 kg ha−1) to snap bean, watermelon, cucumber, mustard, and sunflower was evaluated in Arkansas in 1987 to 1989. Crops were direct-seeded into treated plots at various times after application. Imazaquin and chlorimuron plus metribuzin injured sunflower, watermelon, cucumber, and mustard when planted 16 wk following application in one of two years. Fomesafen injured all crops initially but did not injure snap bean, sunflower, watermelon, and cucumber planted 16 wk after application. In experiments in which herbicides were applied to soybean, fall-planted spinach and mustard were injured in one of two years.

The absorption and translocation of the isopropylamine salts of 14C-glyphosate and 14C-imazapyr were compared in established terrestrial alligatorweed. Results indicated that more than twice as much imazapyr as glyphosate was absorbed by treated leaves of alligatorweed. In addition, more imazapyr was translocated to the underground storage tissues in alligatorweed than was glyphosate. This difference in translocation to roots and subterranean storage tissues is proposed as a mechanism for tolerance of alligatorweed to glyphosate and susceptibility to imazapyr.

Feasibility of supercritical CO2 fluid extraction of imazaquin from spiked soil (3.21 μmol kg-1) as an alternative to a conventional extraction method was investigated. The supercritical fluid extraction method involved single-step extraction of herbicide from soil with no further sample cleanup procedures. Extraction parameters were optimized for maximum herbicide recovery. Adding water as a modifier to air-dried soil significantly improved herbicide recovery. Extracting a 1-g soil sample with supercritical CO2 at 0.80 g ml-1 density and 3 ml min-1 flow rate, 80 C extraction temperature, 6 min static extraction followed by 25 min dynamic extraction, and analyte trap temperature of 40 C was optimum for maximum herbicide recovery. When optimum supercritical fluid extraction conditions were used, imazaquin recovery from three texturally different soils ranged from 55 to 64%, which was comparable to a conventional extraction method (63%). The supercritical fluid extraction method consumed 4 ml methanol and 75 ml supercritical CO2 and took approximately 1 h for sample extraction.

The tomato mutant line HRT was obtained by ethyl methanesulfonate seed mutagenesis of the commercial tomato line M82. Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine whole-plant response to the imidazolinone herbicides imazamox, imazapic, and imazapyr; pyrithiobac-sodium (a herbicide from the pyrimidinylthiobenzoic acid group); and propoxycarbazone sodium (sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinone group). The mutant was highly resistant to imazamox, imazapic, and imazapyr, but did not differ from M82 in its response to the sulfonylurea herbicides Envoke (trifloxysulfuron), Monitor (sulfosulfuron), and Glean (chlorsulfuron). Equip (foramsulfuron), a sulfonylurea herbicide, was toxic to M82 but less so to HRT plants. Under field conditions, HRT showed high resistance to imazapic and imazapyr. The herbicides at a rate of 144 g ai ha−1 did not cause any reduction in HRT plant vigor, development, or yield. Results of greenhouse and field experiments demonstrated high Egyptian broomrape–control efficacy with the imidazolinone herbicides imazapic and imazapyr. Two imazapic applications of 9.6 or 14.4 g ai ha−1 and three applications of 4.8 g ai ha−1 in pot experiments completely prevented appearance of broomrape shoots aboveground. Three and four applications of the same herbicides in the field at a rate of 12 or 24 g ai ha−1 completely prevented shoot appearance without any yield losses. Single imazapic application as high as 144 g ai ha−1 did not damage the plants or reduce HRT yield.