This page was updated on Monday March 17 2008

Herbicide Injury Symptoms

Herbicide injury home page

Growth regulators

Photosynthesis inhibitors

Pigment inhibitors

Lipid biosynthesis inhibitors

Amino acid synthesis inhibitors

Inhibitors of cell division

Inhibitors of shoot growth

Inhibitors of shoot & root

oils, acids & salts

Bipyridylium herbicides

Diphenylether herbicides


Cell Membrane Disrupters:
Oils, Acids & Salts

Common Herbicides in the Group:

  • oils

  • acids (Sulfuric, pelargonic)

  • salts

How Applied:

Foliar applied.

Movement in the Plant:

Limited movement, contact-type herbicides.

Mode of Action:

These herbicides directly dissolve or destroy cell membranes causing rapid desiccation of sprayed plants.

Common Symptoms:

Water soaked appearance followed rapidly by necrosis and death of the sprayed plant parts.

Effects of Oils, Acids & Salts

sprayer


Herbicides in this group included the older, high volume, contact type herbicides which were widely used in the mid 1900's. A high volume spray application of a contact herbicide is shown here in this picture from the 1900's.

contact burn
Contact Burn


The contact burn of weed oil can be seen on these tomato leaves.