POSSIBLE MECHANISMS FOR SURFACTANT-INDUCED FOLIAR UPTAKE OF AGROCHEMICALS

In the past many mechanisms of action have been proposed to explain th e surfactant-induced uptake of agrochemicals applied to foliage. These are reviewed briefly and discussed in relation to potential sites of uptake activation, particularly in the fight of recent radiochemical w ork on the foliar uptake behaviour of surfactants on intact plants in the presence or absence of model penetrants and pesticides. The body o f evidence available is examined in relation to the many outstanding p roblems that still exist in understanding the role and use of surfacta nts as uptake activators in agrochemical formulations.