phenoxyacetic acids

A group of compounds some of which show auxin-like activity. Various chlorine substituted forms cause a disruption in metabolism particularly at the meristems and have been widely used as selective weedkillers. An important factor in the use of phenoxyacetic acids as weedkillers is their immunity from the plant's endogenous IAA oxidizing system, which can normally inactivate superfluous auxins. Examples of such compounds are 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, and MCPA.