Metabolism of Amitrole in Apple: I. Soluble Metabolites from Mature Fruits

Bernd Schneider, Manfred Stock, Gernot Schneider, Horst Robert Schütte, Klaus Schreiber Institute o f Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 0-4050 Halle/S. Angela Brauner, Ernst Ulrich Kaußmann Bayer AG, Crop Protection Research, Environmental Research, Institute for Metabolism, W-5090 Leverkusen, Bayerwerk Z. Naturforsch. 47 c , 120-125 (1992); received June 18/October 24, 1991 Herbicide, Amitrole, Metabolism, Reassimilation, Structural Elucidation Mature fruits from apple trees contain residual amounts of radiolabel derived from soil-applied [3,5-14C]amitrole. This report deals with characterization o f the soluble part o f this radio­ activity. By GC/MS of suitable derivatives 3-(l,2,4-triazol-l-yl)-2-aminopropionic acid was identi­ fied as a new metabolite o f amitrole. Significant parts of radiolabel were incorporated into genuine plant products, indicating liberation o f 14C 0 2 from the applied substance followed by reassimilation. Possible pathways of metabolism of amitrole within the system soil/apple tree are discussed.