In order to elucidate the translocation of the systemic insecticide, phosphamidon (2-chloro-2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl dimethyl phosphate), treated to pine trees against pine leaf gall midges (Thecodiplosis japonensis Uchida et Inouye), [vinyl, carbonyl-^(14)C] phosphamidon was implanted into the trunks of 10-year-old Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) and Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii Parl.), respectively. The upward movement rates of the chemical within Korean red pine in July and Japanese black pine in December were ca. 10 §¯/hr and 2 §¯/hr, respectively. The original radioactivity level persisted up to 75 days after treatment throughout the whole tree in Korean red pine in July, whereas it did up to 150 days in Japanese black pine in December. The chemical was translocated up to the top at the insecticidal level within 3 days after treatment in July, whereas in December it was within 15 days. The translocation of the chemical was much dependent upon pine tree species and the treated season. Methanol was suitable for the extraction of phosphamidon and its metabolites from pine needles. Autoradiography of the methanol extracts of pine needles collected from the treated pine trees proved that phosphamidon broke down very quickly within pine trees (ca. 80% metabolized within 7 days).
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