Why Is Dcmu an Effective Herbicide?

DCMU is a very specific and sensitive inhibitor of photosynthesis. It blocks the Q_B plastoquinone binding site of photosystem II, disallowing the electron flow from photosystem II to plastoquinone. ... Because of these effects, DCMU is often used to study energy flow in photosynthesis.

How does DCMU kill plants?

DCMU kills the weed by inhibition of carbon dioxide fixation, as it is a strong inhibitor of photosystem- II. DCMU acts by blocking electron flow at the guanine acceptors of PS- II (water- plastoquinone oxidoreductase) pigment or pigment system, by attaching itself with the binding site called plastoquinone.

How does DCMU affect synthesis of ATP and NADPH?

So DCMU totally blocks the LEF and results in no ATP and NADPH production from LEF. DBMIB also blocks the CEF and results in 0 ATP and NADPH production from photosynthesis. Instead, the inhibitions do indeed result in the generation of reactive oxygen species in the chloroplast.