Studies on the Mechanism ofs-Triazine Resistance in Common Groundsel

The distribution of simazine [2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)- s -triazine] in whole plants and the effect of atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)- s -triazine] on isolated leaf cells and chloroplasts of two biotypes of common groundsel ( Senecio vulgaris L.) were studied. Both biotypes accumulated 14 C at the leaf margins 60 hr after exposure of roots to 14 C-simazine. No difference in herbicide distribution between the two biotypes was observed. Atrazine (10 μM) inhibited photosynthesis, RNA synthesis, and lipid synthesis in isolated susceptible (S) cells but not resistant (R) cells. Lipid synthesis in S cells but not R cells was enhanced by exposure to 1 and 0.1 μM atrazine for 1 hr. Photochemical activity of R chloroplasts was not inhibited by atrazine but S chloroplasts were severely inhibited.