Mechanism of action of sulcotrione, a 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase inhibitor, in developed plant tissues

The herbicides diuron, fluridone, or sulcotrione differently reduced chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoid (Car) contents. Four days after herbicide treatment, application of sulcotrione resulted in a Chl/Car ratio of 5.88, similar as in untreated controls; diuron resulted in ratio of 5.24, while fluridone induced a greater diminution in Car contents and yielded a final ratio of 7.02. Sulcotrione induced a more rapid decrease than fluridone did in the quantum yield of photosystem 2 (PS2) as monitored by Chl fluorescence. Measurements of DPIP reduction with isolated thylakoids indicated that sulcotrione was a more effective inhibitor of the Hill reaction in cucumber, a herbicide sensitive species, than in maize, a herbicide-insensitive species. These results are consistent with the view that inhibition of electron transport via reduction in plastoquinone contents in plants leads to the major herbicidal effect of sulcotrione in mature green tissues.