Design Of Eco-Friendly Compositions Herbicide/Amphiphilic Adjuvant Based On Optimized Structure - Activity Profile

Abstract

To enhance the effectiveness of commercial herbicide clopyralid carbamate-containing surfactants have been explored as adjuvants. Based on systematic studies of the phytotoxic effect and wetting ability, functionality of surfactant series with different hydrophobicity was attested in terms of seed germination energy, seed germination, length of roots and seedlings of a number of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants (sweet corn, meadow fescue, watercress, dandelion medicinal). In series of tested compounds, N-[2-(butylcarbamoyl)oxy)ethyl]-N,N-dimethylhexadecanammonium bromide (Ur-16 (Bu)) showed the best performance, which is supported by an optimal combination of indicators of physicochemical and biological activities, namely, high solubilizing ability in relation to clopyralid, providing facilitated transport of pesticide molecules into plant cells, with relatively low intrinsic phytotoxicity and high biodegradability. Vegetation experiments demonstrated that the addition of 0.1 %wt. Ur-16 (Bu) to the clopyralid solution leads to an increase in the effectiveness of herbicide action by almost 20%, when treating the crops of a weed plant dandelion medicinal. This result contributes to the optimization of functionality/human toxicity/biodegradability ratio, thereby reducing the side environmental effect.