An aspect of agrochemical effectiveness is its ability to translocate to the relevant sight of action for weeds or ingestion by insects. For modern synthetic insecticides, the most effective mode of translocation in plants is via xylem movement, allowing for even, uniform distribution throughout the foliage that is being attacked by sucking or chewing insect pests. In contrast, for modern synthetic herbicides, phloem mobility is far superior to xylem mobility as it allows for targeted concentration of the active material in the rapidly dividing tissue of the meristem. This presentation will illustrate general translocation properties of xylem-translocated commercial insecticides and phloem-translocated commercial herbicides and the specific attributes of two new agrochemicals from Dow AgroSciences. Sulfoxaflor, a xylem mobile insecticide for control of sucking insects, illustrates well the uniform distribution that leads to good control of aphids in the field. Halauxifen-methyl, a new cereal-selective herbicide, in contrast to sulfoxaflor, is translocated via the phloem where the active herbicide is concentrated to an effective dose in the meristematic tissue of the plant.

Comparison of translocation properties of insecticides vs. herbicides that lead to efficacious control of pests as specifically illustrated by sulfoxaflor, a new insecticide, and halauxifen-methyl, a new herbicide

246th National Meeting (2013)

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