Masao Nakatani

Development of the novel pre-emergence herbicide pyroxasulfone

Pyroxasulfone, which was discovered and developed by K-I Chemical Research Institute Co., Ltd.; Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.; and Ihara Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., is a novel pre-emergence herbicide for wheat, corn, and soybean. Pyroxasulfone inhibits the biosynthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids in plants and has shown excellent herbicidal activity against grass and broadleaf weeds at lower application rates compared with other commercial herbicides. This pesticide has been registered in Japan, Australia, the USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa, and we sell pyroxasulfone products through domestic partner companies in each of these countries. With its high efficacy and relatively low application rates, we believe that pyroxasulfone will contribute to efficient global food production in the future.