Degradation of biochanin A in soil

Degradation of biochanin A, 400 μg (1.41 μmol) per gram of dry soil, was studied and the initial degradation products, dihydrobiochanin A, pratensein and genistein were identified and quantified. The maximum concentrations of these compounds were determined as 166 pmol/g dry soil after 2 days of incubation, 175 pmol/g dry soil after 1 day and 1,236 pmol/g dry soil after 1 day, respectively. Biochanin A and the initially formed products degrade too fast to be responsible for clover soil sickness (DT₉₀ <20 days), but could be precursors for the responsible compounds. The immediate degradation products from biochanin A are all biologically active and are the prime candidates for a reduction of weed pressure caused by clover.