Acetolactate synthase activity inhibition and herbicidal activities were investigated with 2 sulfonylureas [chlorsulfuron{2-chloro-N-{{(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl) amino} carboxyl} benzenesulfonamide}, metsulfuron-methyl{methyl-2{{{{(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino}carbonyl}amino}sulfonyl}benzoic acid}, and 2 imidazoli-nones [imazethapyr{2-{4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl}-5-ethyl-3-pyridinecarboxylicacid}, imazaquin{2-{4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl}-3-quinoline carboxylic acid} herbicides. A broad weeding spectrum was observed with the treated herbicides at low application rates. Both corn(Zea mays L.) and sorghum(Sorghum bicolor Moench) were very sensitive to the two herbicide groups. Although legumes, such as soybean(Glycine max Merr.), clover(Trifolium repense L.), and indian jointvetch(Aeschnomene indica L.) were sensitive to the sulfonylureas, they were tolerant to the imidazolinones. On the contrary, wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) and barley(Hoderum sativum Jess.) showed the reverse responses of the legumes to the two herbicide groups. Quackgrass(Agropyron repens(L.) P. Beauv.). however, was commonly tolerant to the two herbicide groups. Degrees of crop injury and acetolactate synthase inhibition also varied with the crops examined. The 50% inhibition concentrations of sulfonylureas on acetolactate synthase in vitro activity($IC_{50}$) from corn, wheat, and soybean did not relate to the greenhouse herbicidal activities ($GI_{50}$). With chlorsulfuron, for example, wheat had more than 100 times higher $GI_{50}$ than corn and soybean, but the $IC_{50}$ was 4 to 10 times lower. Similar observation was made with metsulfuron-methyl. However, closer relationships between $IC_{50}$ and $GI_{50}$ were found with the imidazolinones. When imazethapyr was applied, the order of $GI_{50}$ values against com, wheat, and soybean was the same as that of $IC_{50}$.