Metabolism of 3',4'-dichloropropionanilide: 3,4-dichloroaniline-lignin complex in rice plants.

Rice plants (Oryza sativa L. var. Bluebonnet 50) metabolize the herbicide 3',4'-dichloropropionanilide to 3,4-dichloroaniline, which in turn conjugates with carbohydrates. Soluble aniline-carbohydrate complexes account for only a small fraction of the hydrolyzed 3',4'-dichloropropionanilide. The major portion of the 3,4-dichloroaniline moiety is found complexed with polymeric cell constituents, mainly lignin. The aniline is lignin-bound as 3,4-dichloroaniline and not as 3',4'-dichloropropionanilide.