Detached live oak (Quercus virginianaMill.) leaves were immersed in aqueous solutions of 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) or (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4,5-T) for periods up to 4 hr. Herbicide concentration ranged from 10−3to 10−6M; solutions were adjusted to either pH 4, 6, 7, or 8. Absorption of picloram in the presence of equimolar concentrations of 2,4,5-T exceeded that noted for picloram alone. The presence of picloram in the treating solutions had no effect on absorption of 2,4,5-T. This technique allows evaluation of absorption and penetration characteristics of mixtures of herbicides, solvents, and adjuvants.

Uptake of 2,4,5-T-1-14C [(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)-acetic acid] by immersion of honey mesquite [Prosopis juliflora(Swartz) DC var.glandulosa(Torr.) Cockerell] leaflets rapidly diminished as pH was increased from 3.5 to 9.5. Uptake diminished less rapidly as pH increased when 10-μl droplets were applied to leaflets that were kept moist. Uptake was equivalent from solutions of pH 3.5, 5.5, and 7.5; but severely reduced at pH 9.5, when leaflets were droplet treated and let dry. Uptake under dry conditions from pH 7.5 and 9.5 droplets containing 1 M NH4Cl was equivalent to uptake from pH 3.5 and 5.5 droplets lacking NH4Cl. NH4Cl had no enhancing effect on uptake at any pH when leaflets were immersed or droplet-treated and maintained moist. Low concentrations of urea had no enhancing effect on uptake at pH 9.5 by droplet-treated leaflets that were allowed to dry. Urea concentrations above 0.1 M inhibited uptake.