Abstract 5-tert-Butyl-carbamoyloxy-3-(3-trifluoromethyl) phenyl-4-thiazolidinone (compound 1), a representative of a novel class of thiazolidinone herbicides, shows potential for the pre- emergence control of grasses and small-seeded broad-leaved weeds in crops such as soyabean. This compound powerfully inhibited the growth and lateral branching of the roots of agar-grown seedlings of susceptible species but had no apparent effect on the growth ...