action. Translocation occurs only within leaves, predominantly from the leaf base to the leaf tip.

Uses Glufosinate-ammonium is used for control of a wide range of annual and perennial broadleaved weeds and grasses in fruit orchards, vineyards, rubber and oil palm plantations, ornamental trees
and bushes, non-crop land, and pre-emergence in vegetables. Also used as a desiccant in potatoes, sunflowers, etc. For control of annual and perennial weeds and grasses in glufosinate- tolerant crops (oilseed rape, maize, soya beans, sugar beet) developed through gene technology. Formulation
types SL. Compatibility Compatible with diuron, simazine, MCPA, and some other herbicides. Selected tradenames ‘Basta’ (Aventis); ‘Liberty* (Aventis)
ANALYSIS: Product analysis by hplc with u.v. determination (C/PAC Handbook, 1995, G, 89-93).
Details available from Aventis. Residue analysis by gc after derivatisation (Man. Pestic. Residue Anal. DFG651).
MAMMALIAN TOXICOLOGY: glufosinate-ammonium
Reviews FAO/WHO 62, 64 (see part 2 of the Bibliography). E. Ebert et a/., Fd. Chem. Toxic., 28(5), 339-349 (1990); R. Hack et al.t Fd. Chem. Toxic., 32(5), 461-470 (1994). Oral Acute oral LD50 for male rats 2000, female rats 1620. male mice 431, female mice 416, dogs 200-400 mg/kg.
Skin and eye Acute percutaneous LD50 for male rats >4000, female rats c. 4000 mg/kg. Not a skin or eye irritant. Inhalation LC50 (4 h) for male rats 1.26, female rats 2.60 mg/l air (dust); for rats >0.62 mg/l air (aerosol). NOEL (2 y) for rats 2 mg/kg b.w. daily. ADI (JMPR) 0.02 mg/kg b.w. [1991].
Other No teratogenic, carcinogenic, mutagenic or neurotoxic effects have been observed. Toxicity class WHO (a.i.) Ill; EPA (formulation) III EC hazard Xn; R22
ECOTOXJCOLOGY: glufosinate-ammonium
Birds Dietary LC50 (8 d) for Japanese quail >5000 mg/kg. Fish LC50 (96 h) for rainbow trout 710, carp, bluegill sunfish, golden orfe >1000 mg/l. Daphnia LC50 (48 h) 560-1000 mg/l.
Algae LD50 for Scenedesmus subspicatus >1000, Selenastrum capricornutum 37 mg/l. Bees Not hazardous to bees; LD50 >100 |ig/bee. Worms LD50 for earthworms >1000 mg/kg soil.
Other beneficial spp. Not toxic to beneficial arthropods.
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE: Animals Rapidly excreted, predominantly via faeces (90%). The principal metabolite is 3-methylphosphinico-propionic acid (3-MPP). A further faecal metabolite is N-acetylglufosinate, formed by intestinal micro-organisms. Plants Non-selective use: only the metabolite, 3-
methylphosphinico-propionic acid (3-MPP), is taken up in traces from the soil. Desiccation: most of the residues consist of parent glufosinate-ammonium with minor amounts of metabolite 3-MPP. Selective use: the principal metabolite is N-acetylglufosinate, with lesser amounts ' of parent and 3-
MPP. Soil/Environment Rapidly degraded in surface levels of soil, and in water. Because of polarity, it and its metabolites do not bioaccumulate. Metabolism in soil and water reviewed (E. Dorn et al.t Z. Pflanzenkr. Pflanzenschutz, 1992, Sonderheft XIII, pp. 459-468).
Degraded to 3-methylphosphinico-propionic acid (3-MPP) and 2-methylphosphinico-acetic acid, and ultimately to CO2 and bound residues. In soil, DT50 3-10 d (lab.), 7-20 d (field); DT90 10-30 d (lab.); DT50 of metabolites 7-19 d (lab.). DT50 in water c. 2-30 d. Lysimeter studies and model
calculations show that neither a.i. nor metabolites leach into groundwater; this appears to be due to rapid degradation, and adsorption to certain soil elements. Adsorption is more correlated with clay content than organic matter, Kciay 2-115, Koc 10-1230 (A. Zumdick et a/.. Proc 9th IUPAC Int.
Congr. Pestic. Chem., London, 1998, 2, 6A-023; idem, ibid., 6D-034).