thiencarbazone-methyl is a sulfonylamino carbonyl triazolinone herbicide developed by Bayer, belonging to branched-chain amino acid (acetyllactate synthase ALS) inhibitors.

The mechanism of action of this herbicide is the same as that of other sulfonylurea herbicides. It also affects the biosynthesis of essential branched-chain amino acids by inhibiting the acetyl-lactate synthase in plants, thereby stopping cell division and the growth of weed plants and achieving the herbicidal effect. The characteristic of thiazone sulfonone is its systemic property. The agent can be absorbed through the roots and leaves of weeds and has the ability to conduct upward. It also features a triple weeding mechanism of soil sealing, early post-emergence stem and leaf treatment, and activation upon contact with water, which can provide stable weeding effects.

Thiosulone is mainly used in cornfields and grain fields to control grassy and broadleaf weeds. The dosage is 5 to 15g of a.i./hm2, and the maximum dosage for soil treatment is 45g/hm2. When used in cornfields, it is often mixed with other herbicides and safety agents. When used in wheat fields, the post-emergence treatment dosage is 5g a.i./hm2, and a safety agent should be added. The application of this pesticide simultaneously possesses soil spray and stem and leaf spray activities, effectively controlling annual gramineous weeds and broadleaf weeds. It can be used both before and in the early post-emergence stage. When used alone, thiazolone sulon has a good effect in controlling 苘麻 and many caryophyllaceae weeds. When combined with isoxazolone, the spectrum of weed control is effectively expanded, and it can effectively control more than 65 kinds of weeds, such as wild millet, horsetail, amaranth, foxtail, cowweed, quinoa, barnyard grass, 苘麻 and other poaceae weeds and broad-leaved weeds.

Thiazone sulfonone can also be used for lawns and ornamental plants. The maximum application per crop cycle is 0.04LB of a.i. A. The application method is limited to ground equipment only and it is not allowed to apply through irrigation systems.

It is reported that Bayer CropScience has promoted a blended lawn herbicide, Tribute Total (thiazuron + formamide mesotrione + chlorpyrazuron), in the United States, which has been approved for use on zoysia japonica in the country. Tribute Total is a new type of post-emergence herbicide with broad-spectrum herbicidal effects, which can help lawn and golf course managers selectively remove certain grass and broad-leaved weeds such as sedges. The unique blending reagent eliminates the trouble of mixing multiple products, providing a complete solution for weed control without the need to bucket mix multiple products, saving time and cost. Tribute Total has previously been approved for the control of Bermuda grass. This product is effective against 55 kinds of grasses and broadleaf weeds, including weeds such as Marton, yellow and purple sedges. The formulation of Tribute Total is 60.5%WG. The usage standard is 1-3.2 ounces per acre. Each can packaging contains 6 ounces and can be applied to 1.875-6 acres.

The development history of thiazosulone

Thiazone sulfonone was first registered globally in Romania in August 2008 and was launched in Romania under the trade name AdengoR. Subsequently, thiazone sulfonone was also registered in the United States. The ternary compound product of thiazolone (thiazolone + isoxazolone + safety agent), trade name CorvusR, was launched in the United States, Argentina and Romania in 2009 and received favorable reviews immediately. Even under abnormal climatic conditions, its application can still achieve excellent weed control effects. Usually, rainfall affects the application effect of herbicides, but the CorvusR product has always been able to exert its efficacy well after application. Because the CorvusR product not only has contact killing and long-lasting effects, but also has a more important feature: it can be reactivated by rainfall after application. Therefore, compared with other herbicides, this product has obvious advantages.

In 2010, the compound product of cyclosulfonone and thiazone sulfonone (33.9% cyclosulfonone + thiazone sulfonone (28.3+5.6%) EC was registered in the United States under the trade name CaprenoR for the control of grass weeds such as horsetail and foxtail in cornfields (feed corn with less than 7 leaves, silage corn and white corn). And broadleaf weeds such as amaranth, quinoa, mustard greens and morning glories.

In 2011, Bayer introduced to users in Ontario and Quebec provinces of Canada its new compound herbicide product - 413g/L cyclosulfonone + thiazone sulfonone (345g/L+68g/L) SC, trade name Vios G3R, for the control of annual grass and broadleaf weeds in cornfields (1-6 leaf stage). Dosage: 110mL/hm2. This product contains two active ingredients, thiazenesulfonone and cyclosulfonone, thus providing a dual mechanism for weed control. Its main target group is the Roundup Ready and LibertyLink series of genetically modified corn. If used in combination with glufosinate-ammonium or glyphosate, it can produce a triple weed control effect, suitable for controlling grassy weeds and broad-leaved weeds such as foxtail grass, quinoa and purslane, and is also applicable to the management of weeds that have developed resistance to herbicides.

In 2012, Bayer launched VarroTM, a wheat herbicide product containing the active ingredient thiazone sulone, in Canada. This product not only has a good weed control effect on gramineous weeds and selective broadleaf weeds; It also enables farmers to flexibly control crop rotation and can be used in combination with many broadleaf weed herbicide products such as BuctrilR M and ThumperR in barrels, while ensuring the safety of wheat crops.

In 2014, Bayer Environmental Science launched the broad-spectrum post-bud herbicide product DerigoTM (active ingredients: formylamoxulon + sodium methyl iodosulfonon + thiazone sulfonon ternary combination), providing a multi-functional product option for warm-season road vegetation and helping road managers simplify weed control. DerigoTM can control many invasive weeds and broad-leaved weeds, and at the same time promote the healthy growth of ornamental grasses such as Bermuda grass, zoysia japonica and Pseudorhynsia japonica, which are warm-season grasses. DerigoTM can effectively control over 30 kinds of harmful weeds including Johnson, Sargassum, wild aster and foxtail grass, as well as over 100 kinds of broad-leaved weeds.

In 2014, Bayer added the safety agent cyprosulfamide (p-isopropyl toluenesulfonamide) to 315g/L isoxazolate-thiazolone suspension, which is a brand-new herbicide product for corn fields. The feature of this product is that it is safe for corn and subsequent crops such as wheat, barley, soybeans, potatoes, rapeseed, spinach, garlic, etc. Weeds die quickly, have a secondary herbicidal effect, and have a relatively long residual effect.

In 2015, DuPont launched a new grain herbicide product called PredicadeTM in Canada, which contains five active ingredients (active ingredients:) Thiophenesulfonon + benzenesulfonon + thiophenesulfonon + chlorofluoropyloxyacetic acid + 2-methyl-4-chlorine, used for spring wheat and hard wheat, has a wide spectrum of weed control, and has a good control effect on stubborn broad-leaved and gramineous weeds, including chickweed, narrow-leaved yellow 鹌, dandelion, night-flower silene, white summer chrysanthemum and wild oat, etc.

In 2016, Bayer launched a new herbicide for wheat fields, LuxxurR (thiazuron + benzenuron), in Canada, which is used to control stubborn weeds such as wild oats and perennial herbaceous plants. LuxxurR is an efficient weed management product that can control stubborn weeds, including wild oats, yellow vegetable, and perennial herbs such as Canadian field thistle and dandelion. LuxxurR has a relatively small impact on subsequent crops and is more flexible in use, especially being safer for the subsequent planting of soybean crops.

In March 2016, Bayer registered and launched in China the 98% thiazolone sulone technical material (PD 20160358) and 26% thiazolone · isoxazolone (7%+19%) suspension products, which contain the safety agent cyclopropanulamide, under the trade name Aiyuyou R (registration number PD 20160357). This agent is used for stem and leaf spray treatment to control annual weeds in cornfields, with an active ingredient dosage of 118.1 to 141.8 grams per hectare. The compound product of Aiyuyou R-series thiazolone sulon and isoxazolone not only broadens the spectrum of weed control; Moreover, due to the reactivation property of isoxadimefon upon exposure to rain, even if the stems and leaves are immediately washed onto the ground by rain after treatment, they will once again exert their soil weeding activity, thereby reducing the requirement for weather conditions during application. This agent has the characteristics of a broad spectrum of weed control, drought resistance, resistance to rain erosion, less influence by weather and soil moisture conditions, and a long weed control period, which makes it more competitive. It is currently the only herbicide on the market that can achieve a triple herbicidal mechanism through soil sealing, early post-emergence stem and leaf treatment, and activation upon contact with water.

Argentina is a major producer and exporter of grains (such as corn, wheat, sorghum, etc.) in South America. Among them, corn is the second largest exporter in the world. Thiazone sulfonone is highly favored for use in the country's corn fields. In 2017, the sales of thiazolon-sulon, one of the top ten herbicides used in Argentina's cornfields, reached 20.32 million US dollars, ranking fourth (the top three were atrazine, glyphosate and 2, 4-dil), far exceeding the sales of other herbicides such as acetochlor, benzoin, metolachlor, isoxazolachlor, flumicloracone and glufosinate-ammonium.

It was reported that in March 2022, Bayer's new corn herbicide TriVort (thiazolone + fluthiazolam + isoxazolam) was registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency. TriVort is a new selective corn herbicide that offers corn growers built-in resistance management and continuous high-level weed control. TriVort contains three different active ingredients: thiazolone, fluthiazolone and isoxazolone, which belong to the 2nd, 15th and 17th groups of herbicides respectively. This combination can provide killing and residual activity for up to 8 weeks under various weather conditions. If used in combination with atrazine herbicide buckets, TriVort has multiple different action sites and can control difficult-to-control grasses and broad-leaved weeds such as amaranth vine, foxtail grass, ragweed, ground skin, and long blind amaranth.

Robert Schrick, the head of Bayer's crop protection strategy business, introduced that the use of TriVort can help growers ensure that their fields are clean and free of weeds from the very beginning and remove the weeds before they compete with the crops, thus ensuring the cleanliness of the fields. This is also the key to achieving an increase in crop yields at harvest time. The launch of TriVort herbicide also provides growers with another powerful tool to combat weeds. The recommended application time for TriVort herbicide is before sowing, before emergence, and during planting. It can also be applied early after emergence.

In 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of New Zealand solicited public opinions on Bayer New Zealand's application for importing or producing the new herbicide Conviso One. Conviso One is an oil dispersion formulation containing 50g/L of formylaminosulfurone active ingredient and 30g/L of thiazone sulfurone active ingredient. Thiazone sulfonone has not been registered in New Zealand before, but it has been approved in Canada, Europe and the United States. The active ingredient of formylaminosulfurone has also been approved for use in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan and the United States.

It is reported that in January 2024, Bayer's new herbicide ViosTM FX (thiazuron + chlorofluropyloxyacetic acid) was registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency. ViosTM FX can effectively control stubborn weeds, including resistant weeds such as wild oats, foxtail grass and cochia. Among them, thiazone sulfonone can effectively control herbaceous weeds such as wild oats and foxtail grass. Combined with the highest dose of clofluoropyloxyacetic acid available on the market, it can deal with difficult-to-control broadleaf weeds such as Cochia. In addition, ViosTM FX is easy to operate and mix, and can directly clean the tank and spray rod.

The expiration dates of Bayer's European patent EP 1200426 and US patent US 6964939 for thiophenesulfonon are both July 4, 2020. In China, the compound patent CN 1158280C (Patent name: Substituted thiophene-3-sulfenacylamino (thioid) carbonyl triazoline (thioid) ketone compound, patent application time: The patent protection period also expired on July 4, 2020. (2000.07.04) Domestic enterprises with the strength and courage to explore new pesticides can register and produce thiazone sulfonone in the coming years to meet market demands.

Since its launch in 2009, the global sales of thiazesulfonone have been on the rise. Sales reached 45 million US dollars in 2011, rose to 105 million US dollars in 2012, global sales were 135 million US dollars in 2013, and reached 180 million US dollars in 2014. The compound annual growth rate from 2009 to 2014 was 64.4%. In 2015, due to global climate and other reasons, the sales of all pesticide varieties declined. The sales of thiazone sulfonone also dropped to 150 million US dollars, with a compound annual growth rate of 49.6% from 2009 to 2015. In 2018, the global sales of thiazesulfonone rose again to 163 million US dollars.

The mechanism of action of thiazosulone

Thiosulone is an acetyl-lactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor. By inhibiting the biosynthesis of essential branched-chain amino acids in plants, it stops cell division and weed growth. Thiosulfonone has both soil activity and stem and leaf activity. After being absorbed by the roots and stems and leaves of weeds, it is conducted upward, and the contact killing effect is good. After application, the active ingredients are absorbed into the plant body through the root system and stems and leaves of the sensitive plant, which hinders the biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids in the plant and eventually leads to the death of the sensitive plant.

To enhance the control effect of thiazone sulfonone, when used as a soil treatment agent, the land must be leveled and compacted. In slightly alkaline soil and sandy soil with low organic matter content and strong leachability, it sometimes leads to symptoms of pesticide damage such as yellowing and whitening of corn leaves. Therefore, the dosage of the pesticide can be appropriately adjusted according to the soil texture, organic matter content and weed density. If thiosulone is only used to control dicotyledonous weeds, it can be directly applied as a single agent. If dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous weeds occur together, the pesticide should be mixed with other herbicides such as propicolamine and propicolamine for better results.

Product features

Thiosulone has excellent systemic properties. The pesticide can be absorbed through the roots and leaves of weeds and has the ability to be conducted upward. It also has the ability to provide stable weeding effects through soil sealing and early post-emergence stem and leaf treatment.

2. Thiazone sulfonone has an excellent effect on controlling weeds. The wheat herbicide product VarroTM of thiazone sulone not only has a good control effect on gramineous weeds and selective broadleaf weeds, but also can control 苘麻 and many caryophyllaceae weeds. Especially after the combination of thiazolone and isoxazolone (26% thiazolone · isoxazolone suspension, containing the safety agent cyclopropanulamide), the trade name Aiyu You R, its herbicidal spectrum has been effectively expanded, and it can effectively control more than 65 kinds of grass and broad-leaved weeds, such as barnyard grass, wild millet, 苘麻, horsetail, amaranth, quinoa, foxtail grass and other weeds.

3. The addition of thiazone sulfonone as a safety agent has enhanced the safety of crops. It can enhance the tolerance of crops to the herbicide and accelerate the degradation of the herbicide in corn crops at the same time.

4. Thiazone sulfonone is a low-toxicity pesticide. It is harmless or slightly toxic to environmental organisms such as birds, fish, water fleas, bees, earthworms and soil microorganisms.

5. There are many types of processing dosage forms. It can be processed into products such as emulsions, suspensions, water dispersible granules and dispersible oil suspensions for use.

6. It has a strong ability to be compounded and mixed with other herbicides, and the control effect is better. Thiazone sulfonone can be compounded with other types of herbicides to form many products, thereby expanding the spectrum of weed control. For instance, the binary compound product (cyclosulfonone and thiazone sulfonone), trade name CaprenoR, is used in cornfields to control grassy weeds such as horsetail and foxtail grass, as well as broadleaf weeds like amaranth, quinoa, mustard, and morning glory. For instance, the ternary compound product (formamide mesotrione + sodium methyl iodosulfonon + thiazone sulfonon), with the trade name DerigoTM, can control many invasive weeds and broadleaf weeds, while promoting the healthy growth of green lawns. It can also effectively combat over 30 kinds of harmful weeds, including Johnson, Sargassum, wild aster and foxtail grass, as well as over 100 kinds of broad-leaved weeds. For instance, the five-element compound product (thiazenesulfonon + benzenesulfonon + thiophenesulfonon + chlorofluoropyloxyacetic acid + 2-methyl-4-chlorine), with the trade name PredicadeTM, has a broader spectrum for weeding and control in spring wheat and hard wheat fields, and it is also effective against stubborn broadleaf and gramineous weeds. Including chickweed, narrow-leaf yellow 鹌 vegetable, dandelion, night-flowered silene, white summer chrysanthemum and wild oat, etc., all have very good control effects.