15.4 Fatty Acid Biosynthesis and Elongation

First, it is important to quickly examine the major biochemical pathway in plants for which fatty acids are made.  This is necessary to understand how herbicides impede this pathway, the resulting effects and injury symptoms in plants.  The following diagram illustrates this pathway in a simplified manner (Click on image for viewing larger size).  In the video clip found directly after the image, Dr. Namuth-Covert walks you through the main concepts and at which stages in the pathway herbicide chemistries do their disruptions.