Herbicidal properties of alpha-terthienyl, a naturally occurring phototoxin

Abstract

The herbicidal efficacy of alpha-terthienyl (α-T), a naturally occurring phototoxin, was investigated in pot and field trials. The phototoxin acted as a contact herbicide on corn and broad leaf weeds and produced necrotic lesions under solar or solar-simulating illumination. In comparison to currently used herbicides such as atrazine, the efficacy of α-T for growth inhibition of the weed species was low with 50% inhibition of growth at 15 to 29 kg ha −1 . Key words: Alpha-terthienyl, phototoxin, herbicide, corn, weeds