The Mode of the Herbicidal Action of Benzyl N,N-Dialkyldithiocarbamates

The mode of the herbicidal action of benzyl N,N-dialkyldithiocarbamates was examined. These compounds did not inhibit the Hill reaction nor increase ATP-ase activity. However, they enhanced the respiration of plants and strongly inhibited oxidative phosphorylation. There was a linear relationship between Taft’s σ* constants of N-alkyl substituents of benzyl N,N-dialkyldithiocarbamates and median P/O inhibition concentrations of these dithiocarbamates.