Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) is one of the main targets for the development of new herbicide varieties, accounting for a relatively large proportion of the market. Because this herbicide mainly acts on chlorophyll and has low toxicity to mammals, this herbicide has the characteristics of high efficiency, low toxicity and safety.
Animals, plants, bacteria and fungi all contain protoporphyrinogen oxidase, which catalyzes protoporphyrinogen IX to protoporphyrin IX under the condition of molecular oxygen, protoporphyrinogen oxidase is the last common enzyme in tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, mainly synthesizing ferrous heme and chlorophyll. In plants, protoporphyrinogen oxidase has two isoenzymes, which are located in mitochondria and chloroplasts respectively. Protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitors are strong contact herbicides, which can achieve the purpose of weed control mainly by inhibiting the synthesis of plant pigments, and have a short residual period in soil, which is not harmful to later crops. The new varieties of this herbicide have the characteristics of selectivity, high activity, low toxicity and not easy to accumulate in the environment.
PPO inhibitors of the main herbicide varieties
1. Diphenyl ether herbicides
Some recent PPO varieties
3.1The ISO name saflufenacil obtained in 2007 – BASF, the patent has expired in 2021.
In 2009, benzochlor was first registered in the United States and was marketed in 2010. Benzochlor is currently registered in the United States, Canada, China, Nicaragua, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Australia. At present, many enterprises in China are in the process of registration.
3.2 Won the ISO name tiafenacil in 2013 and the patent expires in 2029.
In 2018, flursulfuryl ester was first launched in South Korea; In 2019, it was launched in Sri Lanka, opening the journey of promoting the product in overseas markets. At present, flursulfuryl ester has also been registered in Australia, the United States, Canada, Brazil and other countries, and actively registered in other major markets.
3.3 The ISO name trifludimoxazin (trifluoxazin) was obtained in 2014 and the patent expires in 2030.
On May 28, 2020, the original drug of trifluoxazine was registered in Australia for the first time in the world, and the global commercialization process of trifluoxazine was rapidly advanced, and on July 1 of the same year, BASF’s compound product (125.0g /L tricfluoxazine + 250.0g /L benzosulfuramide suspension) was also approved for registration in Australia.
3.4 ISO name cyclopyranil obtained in 2017 – patent expires in 2034.
A Japanese company applied for a European patent (EP3031806) for a general compound, including cyclopyranil compound, and submitted a PCT application, international publication No. WO2015020156A1, dated August 7, 2014. The patent has been authorized in China, Australia, Brazil, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and the United States.
3.5 epyrifenacil awarded ISO name in 2020
Epyrifenacil broad spectrum, quick effect, mainly used in corn, wheat, barley, rice, sorghum, soybean, cotton, sugar beet, peanut, sunflower, rape, flowers, ornamental plants, vegetables, to prevent many broad-leaved weeds and grass weeds, such as setae, cow grass, barnyard grass, ryegrass, tail grass and so on.
3.6 ISO named flufenoximacil (Flufenoximacil) in 2022
Fluridine is a PPO inhibitor herbicide with wide weed spectrum, fast action rate, effective on the same day of application, and good flexibility for subsequent crops. In addition, fluridine also has ultra-high activity, reducing the amount of active ingredients of insecticidal herbicides to the gram level, which is environmentally friendly.
In April 2022, fluridine was registered in Cambodia, its first worldwide listing. The first product containing this core ingredient will be listed in China under the trade name “Fast as the wind”.
Post time: Mar-26-2024