Metabolism of the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium in plant cell cultures oftransgenic (rhizomania-resistant) and non-transgenic sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris), carrot (Daucus carota), purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and thorn apple (Datura stramonium)
Bp. Muller et al., Metabolism of the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium in plant cell cultures oftransgenic (rhizomania-resistant) and non-transgenic sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris), carrot (Daucus carota), purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and thorn apple (Datura stramonium), PEST MAN SC, 57(1), 2001, pp. 46-56
The metabolism of the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium was investigated in he
terotrophic cell suspension and callus cultures of transgenic (bar-gene) an
d non-transgenic sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris). Similar studies were performed
with suspensions of carrot (Daucus carota), purple foxglove (Digitalis purp
urea) and thorn apple (Datura stramonium). C-14-labelled chemicals were the
(racemic) glufosinate, L-glufosinate, and D-glufosinate, as well as the me
tabolites N-acetyl L-glufosinate and 3-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)propionic a
cid (MPP). Cellular absorption was generally low, but depended noticeably o
n plant species, substance and enantiomer. Portions of non-extractable resi
dues ranged from 0.1% to 1.2% of applied C-14. Amounts of soluble metabolit
es resulting from glufosinate or L-glufosinate were between 0.0% and 26.7%
of absorbed C-14 in non-transgenic cultures and 28.2% and 59.9% in transgen
ic sugarbeet. D-Glufosinate, MPP and N-acetyl L-glufosinate proved to be st
able. The main metabolite in transgenic sugarbeet was N-acetyl L-glufosinat
e, besides traces of MPP and 4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)butanoic acid (MPB)
. In non-transgenic sugarbeet, glufosinate was transformed to a limited ext
ent to MPP and trace amounts of MPB. In carrot, D stramonium and D purpurea
, MPP was also the main product; MPB was identified as a further trace meta
bolite in D stramonium and D purpurea. (C) 2001 Society of Chemical Industr
y.