Thidiazuron (TDZ) is a

plant growth regulator Plant hormone (or phytohormones) are signal molecules, produced within plants, that occur in extremely low concentrations. Plant hormones control all aspects of plant growth and development, from embryogenesis, the regulation of organ size, pat ...

Applications

Plant growth regulator

The synthesis routes and their use as plant growth regulating agent were patented in the early 1980s by the German company

Schering AG Schering AG was a research-centered German multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Wedding, Berlin, which operated as an independent company from 1851 to 2006. In 2006, it was bought by Bayer AG and merged to form the Bayer subsi ...

. Thidiazuron is taken up by the leaves and has a

cytokinin Cytokinins (CK) are a class of plant hormones that promote cell division, or cytokinesis, in plant roots and shoots. They are involved primarily in cell growth and differentiation, but also affect apical dominance, axillary bud growth, and lea ...

-like behavior. It causes leaves to lose weight in a controlled manner prior to harvesting, without affecting the growth and maturation of the plant. This facilitates mechanical harvesting. It also accelerates the maturation process, because leaves do not block the sunlight. The plants later develop normal

foliage A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, ste ...

. Thidiazuron can also be used as a herbicide, because an appropriate dose and timing of administration completely stops growth. The product was marketed by Aventis CropScience; later merged into

Bayer Bayer AG (, commonly pronounced ; ) is a German multinational corporation, multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company and one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Headquartered in Leverkusen, Bayer's areas of busi ...

CropScience. Brand names are Dropp (for use in the cultivation of cotton) or Revent (for use in fruit production). Dropp Ultra, Dropp UltraMax and Ginstar are products with a mixture of thidiazuron and

diuron DCMU (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) is an algicide and herbicide of the arylurea class that inhibits photosynthesis. It was introduced by Bayer in 1954 under the trade name of Diuron. History In 1952, chemists at E. I. du Pont de Nemo ...

Preservative

Researchers found that thidiazuron is suitable for extending the life of cut flowers. The substance slows down or prevents the wilting of the leaves.

Regulatory

European Union

In 2008, the

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...

banned the use of thiadiazuron in agriculture. It was one of the agricultural chemicals in the framework of the European Pesticides Directive 91/414 / EEC that must have an environmental and health assessment to obtain a new authorization. An outdated substance is an active substance which was already on the market in the European Union on July 25, 1993, before the action step of the directive. Existing stocks could still be used afterwards for one year. Thidiazuron is still used in other parts of the world, including in the United States, Australia, and Mexico.

Toxicology and safety

Thidiazuron is mildly acutely toxic, irritating to skin and eyes, and may cause respiratory irritation if inhaled.

References

{{reflist Herbicides Ureas Thiadiazoles