NC State Extension Publications

Problem

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Herbicide injury caused from photosystem II (PS II) inhibitors including s-triazines (such as atrazine and simazine), as-triazine (such as metribuzin), ureas (such as diuron and linuron). [Note: symptoms from metribuzin and urea herbicides are described in separate factsheets.] S-triazine and as-triazine carryover can be an issue in rotation to sensitive crops.

Symptoms

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  • Interveinal and marginal chlorosis on older leaves first (s-triazines).
  • Leaf margin chlorosis on older leaves (as-triazines).
  • Necrosis of older leaves first followed by seedling dieback.
  • No root symptoms.
Interveinal chlorosis in peach from atrazine spray drift.

Interveinal chlorosis in peach from atrazine spray drift, 21 days after treatment. Root uptake may cause similar symptoms in susceptible crops.

B. Lassiter  CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Interveinal chlorosis in grape from atrazine spray drift.

Interveinal chlorosis in grape from atrazine spray drift, 14 days after treatment. Root uptake may cause similar symptoms in susceptible crops.

B. Lassister  CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Interveinal chlorosis in grape from atrazine spray drift.

Interveinal chlorosis in grape from atrazine spray drift, 21 days after treatment. Chlorosis may lead to bleaching then necrosis.

J. Neal  CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Manganese deficiency in muscadine grape.

Interveinal chlorosis may be caused by several other factors including micronutrient deficiencies such as this manganese deficiency in muscadine grape.

J. Neal  CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Plant Entry and Symptom Expression

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Foliar or root absorbed and apoplastically translocated throughout the plant. PS inhibitors are often soil applied and quickly absorbed by young seedling roots and shoots. Chlorosis resulting from chlorophyll synthesis inhibition is visible on older leaves within about 7 days of application. Cell membranes are damaged resulting in tissue necrosis shortly thereafter. Damage is typically most common on broadleaf plants, less common on grasses.

Similar Problems

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PS II inhibitor injury may be confused with symptoms from:

  • Iron or magnesium deficiencies but is usually observed on older leaves.
  • Urea herbicides bind to the same metabolic sites as PS II inhibitors thus producing similar symptoms.
  • Fast acting contact herbicides like gramoxone may show chlorosis throughout the plant within a few hours to one day but followed rapidly by necrosis.
  • Some exterior paints.

Herbicide Mode of Action Category

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WSSA – 5
HRAC – C1

Authors

Professor of Weed Science, Extension Specialist & Department Extension Leader
Horticultural Science
Professor Emeritus
Cobleskill Univ.
Assistant Professor
Horticultural Science
Extension Associate, Horticulture
Horticultural Science

Publication date: Dec. 14, 2015

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