Herbicides and Plant Metabolism

This volume provides a review of the most important areas of the biochemistry of herbicide action. The introductory chapter is a review of the field of herbicide discovery, and this is followed by chapters dealing with the herbicidal inhibition of photosynthesis, carotenoid biosynthesis, lipid biosynthesis, and amino acid biosynthesis. The metabolism of herbicides is discussed with particular reference to the formation of toxic components from non-toxic chemicals, and also the inactivation of toxic chemicals as a basis for selectivity. The final chapters are concerned with mechanisms of herbicide resistance in plants and the possibility of transferring resistance to susceptible crops. The book is completed with a glossary of the most important herbicidal chemicals mentioned in the text. The volume is suitable for senior undergraduates and graduates in agriculture, horticulture, applied biology and plant biochemistry and for M.Sc. students in crop protection; it will also appeal to industrial research scientists involved in herbicide development.