Simazine: Degradation by Corn Seedlings

Abstract

The herbicide 2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine (simazine) is converted to 2-hydroxy-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine (hydroxysimazine) in vivo by corn seedlings and in vitro by corn extracts. Hydroxysimazine is considered to be a detoxified form of the herbicide. In vitro conversion was produced by reacting simazine with either a cyclic hydroxamate (2,4-dihydroxy-3-keto-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazine) or its glucoside. The latter compounds may mediate at least some of the in vivo conversion in corn.