Canada approves herbicide pyroxasulfone and pheromone

The Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has proposed to grant full registration for the sale and use of Kumiai Chemical's herbicide Pyroxasulfone Technical and Pyroxasulfone 85 WG, containing the technical grade active ingredient pyroxasulfone, to control weeds in field corn.

Pyroxasulfone is a novel pre-emergence herbicide discovered amongst a series of herbicidal 3-sulfonylisoxazoline derivatives. Pyroxasulfone inhibits very-long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) synthesis by interfering with elongation of the C18 chains, which are normally catalyzed by VLCFA elongases. This causes inhibition of shoot elongation after seed germination. Formation of cell membranes and waxy cuticle materials within developing plant tissue is also severely affected by lack of VLCFAs. The active ingredient, pyroxasulfone, enters target plants through root-uptake or via the apical meristem. This compound is primarily efficacious against annual grasses and also provides control of certain broadleaf weeds.

Pyroxasulfone is regarded as a Weed Science Society of America Group 15 Herbicide or Herbicide Resistance Action Committee Group K3 Herbicide.

In addition, the agency is also granting full registration for the sale and use of US pheromone company Trece's Bedoukian Indian Meal Moth Technical and Cidetrak IMM, containing the technical grade active ingredient (9Z,12E)-9,12-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate, for use as a mating disruptant for Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella), tobacco moth (Ephestia elutella), raisin moth (Cadra figulilella), almond moth (Cadra cautella), and Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella).