Saflufenacil absorption and translocation in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Research was conducted to determine the mechanism(s) responsible for safening winter wheat to postemergence-applied saflufenacil when mixed with 2,4-D amine or bentazon. Less than 10% of applied saflufenacil was absorbed when mixed with bentazon whereas absorption peaked at 16% at 14 days after treatment when saflufenacil was applied alone. Wheat plants absorbed 2.8- to 3.5-times more saflufenacil when saflufenacil was applied with 2,4-D amine compared to saflufenacil alone. Regardless of herbicide treatment and harvest timing, <10% of absorbed saflufenacil was translocated from the treated leaf to other plant parts. Safening of saflufenacil with bentazon is likely due to reduced absorption of saflufenacil into winter wheat plants. In the presence of crop oil concentrate, saflufenacil absorption was enhanced by 2,4-D amine. The influence of bentazon and 2,4-D amine on saflufenacil absorption in wheat plants likely explains the differences in wheat response observed in previous research.