An actual scenario that demonstrates sulcotrione photodegradation on maize leaves after spraying.
Résumé
The fate of sulcotrione (herbicide) was monitored on maize leaves after spraying. One hour after spraying 10% of the active ingredient was already transformed due to the action of solar light. Sulcotrione mainly undergoes photocyclization. The photoproduct, fully characterized, is easily detected on leaves surface. The day after spraying, 90% of sulcotrione initially detected has disappeared and 23 % is detected as the cyclization product. Two days after spraying sulcotrione is no longer detected but the photoproduct still represents 7% of the initial amount detected. This study brings out the importance of the photodegradation pathway after crop spraying.