The influence of the herbicide methabenzthiazuron on the synthesis of plastidic lipids in Hordeum vulgare seedlings

The herbicide methabenzthiazuron, and inhibitor of the Hill reaction, was applied to Hordeum seeds at the time of sowing, and the greening process under continuous Fluora light was investigated to the age of 13 days. Chlorophyll and xanthophyll contents were increased by methabenzthiazuron relative to the controls, with degrading ratios of chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b and rising xanthophyll/carotene values. The enhanced ratios of chlorophyll a to lipoquinones, like the absolute values, indicate an inhibition of the lipoquinones. These metabolic alterations are similar to those found in shade-adapted leaves. It is suggested, therefore, that inhibition of the photosynthetic electron transport, like deficiency in light of shade leaves, is compensated by metabolic reactions leading to a greater amount of photosystem II with an enhanced accumulation of the light-trapping chlorophylls and carotenoids.