Comparative actions of clomazone on beta-carotene levels and growth in rice (Oryza sativa) and watergrasses (Echinochloa spp)

Seedlings of rice, early watergrass (thiobencarb-resistant and thiobencarb-susceptible biotypes, R and S, respectively), and late watergrass (thiobencarb-resistant and thiobencarb-susceptible biotypes, R and S, respectively) were hydroponically exposed to clomazone at concentrations ranging from 0.08 to 7.9 microM. Whole-plant growth (mg fresh wt) and beta-carotene concentrations (microg g(-1) fresh wt) were measured after a 7-day exposure period. For growth, the no observed effect concentrations (NOECs) were 7.9, 0.21, 0.21, 0.46 and 0.46 microM clomazone for rice, early watergrass (R), early watergrass (S), late watergrass (R) and late watergrass (S), respectively, while the concentrations causing 25% inhibition in response (IC25) were 5.6 (+/-1.6), 0.46 (+/-0.06), 0.42 (+/-0.08), 0.92 (+/-0.45) and 0.79 (+/-0.08) microM clomazone, respectively. Clomazone inhibits beta-carotene synthesis via inhibition of the non-mevalonate isoprenoid synthetic pathway. For assessment of clomazone effects, beta-carotene levels proved to be a more sensitive toxicological endpoint than growth. For rice, early watergrass (R), early watergrass (S), late watergrass (R) and late watergrass (S), the beta-carotene NOECs were 0.21, <0.08, <0.08, 0.08 and 0.46 microM clomazone respectively, while IC25 values were 0.42 (+/-0.26), 0.08 (+/-0.02), 0.08 (+/-0.02), 0.33 (+/-0.09) and 0.54 (+/-0.15) microM, respectively. No evidence was found that the thiobencarb-resistance mechanisms present in early and late watergrasses impart resistance to clomazone. Due to similar sensitivity between rice and late watergrass, use of clomazone in rice culture will require the use of a safening technique.     

The basis for the safening of clomazone by phorate insecticide in cotton and inhibitors of cytochrome P450s

Clomazone may be safely used in cotton to manage weeds when applied following treatments of the organophosphate insecticides phorate or disulfoton. The loss of chlorophyll and carotenoids with 6 days of 100 nM clomazone treatment of cotton seedlings was partially prevented with phorate in hydroponic solution in a rate-dependent manner. In a study to examine the timing of safening from a one-day clomazone (100 nM) treatment, maximum safening was achieved when phorate (50 μM) was applied the same day as clomazone. Phorate decreased metabolism of ¹⁴C-clomazone to polar metabolites in excised cotton shoots and shoots of intact cotton plants. Microsomal studies of corn shoots showed an NADPH-dependent/cytochrome P450 reaction was inhibited by phorate. Additional studies with corn microsomes, corn seedlings and cotton seedlings supported the basis of clomazone safening is the inhibition of toxic clomazone metabolism by P450 inhibitors.     

The behavior of clomazone in the soil environment

BACKGROUND: Clomazone is a herbicide used to control broadleaf weeds and grasses. Clomazone use in agriculturally important crops and forests for weed control has increased and is a potential water contaminant given its high water solubility (1100 µg mL^?1). Soil sorption is an environmental fate parameter that may limit its movement to water systems. The authors used model rice and forest soils of California to test clomazone sorption affinity, capacity, desorption, interaction with soil organic matter and behavior with black carbon. RESULTS: Sorption of clomazone to the major organic matter fraction of soil, humic acid (HA) (K_d = 29–87 L kg^?1), was greater than to whole soils (K_d = 2.3–11 L kg^?1). Increased isotherm non‐linearity was observed for the whole soils (N = 0.831–0.893) when compared with the humic acids (N = 0.954–0.999). Desorption isotherm results showed hysteresis, which was greatest at the lowest solution concentration of 0.067 µg mL^?1 for all whole soils and HA extracts. Aliphatic carbon content appeared to contribute to increased isotherm linearity. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that clomazone does not sorb appreciably to sandy or clay soils. Its sorption affinity and capacity is greater in humic acid, and consequently clomazone has difficulty desorbing from soil organic matter. Sorption appears to follow processes explained by the dual‐mode model, the presence of fire residues (black carbon) and a recently proposed sorption mechanism. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Photolytic versus microbial degradation of clomazone in a flooded California rice field soil

BACKGROUND: Clomazone is a popular herbicide used on California rice fields and exhibits rapid anaerobic microbial degradation (t_1/2 = 7.9 days). To test the potential of direct and indirect photolytic degradation as a cofactor in the overall degradation rate, sacrificial time‐series microcosms were amended with water, non‐sterilized soil + water and sterilized soil + water. Clomazone was added to each microcosm, which was then exposed to natural and artificial sunlight over 35 days. Water and acetonitrile extracts were analyzed for clomazone and metabolites via LC/MS/MS. RESULTS: The calculated pseudo‐first‐order degradation rate constants (k) were k_water = 0–0.005 ± 0.003 day^?1, k_sterile = 0–0.005 ± 0.003 day^?1 and k_non?sterile = 0.010 ± 0.002–0.044 ± 0.007 day^?1, depending on light type. The formation of ring‐open clomazone, a microbial metabolite, correlated with clomazone degradation. Trace amounts of 5‐hydroxyclomazone (m/z = 256 → 125), aromatic hydroxyclomazone (m/z = 256 → 141) and an unknown product (m/z = 268 → 125) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The photolytic degradation rate depends on both light type and the quality of the chromophores that induce indirect photolysis. Microbial degradation was found to be sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Overall, microbes are shown to be more detrimental to the environmental fate of clomazone than photolysis. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

异噁草酮对土壤微生物和土壤酶活性的影响

本试验检测了异噁草酮处理土壤后土壤中微生物群落数量和土壤酶活性变化,目的在于研究异噁草酮对土壤微生态产生的影响。结果表明:土壤中异噁草酮有效成分浓度为200、500μg/kg和700μg/kg时,促进土壤中细菌和真菌数量增长,该数量在处理7d之内就会明显变化,并且此影响随异噁草酮使用浓度的提高而增强,但异噁草酮对放线菌的数量无显著影响。施用异噁草酮后,土壤酶活性反应程度由高到低的顺序为:转化酶多酚氧化酶过氧化氢酶。本研究中异噁草酮施入土壤后,除对多酚氧化酶有明显抑制作用,且该抑制作用在短时间内可恢复外,对土壤微生物数量和土壤酶活性都有促进作用。     

影响降解菌W2修复异噁草酮污染土壤的三种因子的优化

［目的］ 确定降解菌W2对土壤中异噁草酮的最优生物修复条件。［方法］ 采用3因素5水平正交旋转组合设计,室外盆栽生物测定方法,研究降解菌W2接种量、土壤含水量和肥料添加量3种田间可控因子对降解菌W2修复异噁草酮污染土壤效果的影响。［结果］ 确定修复条件的优化数学回归模型为:y=62.363 9+5.872 8×C1-4.494 1×C2C3-1.262 1×C21-4.076 7×C22,不同因子对土壤修复影响大小顺序依次为土壤含水量、肥料添加量、降解菌W2接种量。［结论］ 降解菌W2对土壤中异噁草酮的最优生物修复条件为：降解菌W2接种量8.19～11.81 mL/kg（A650=0.4）,土壤含水量18.6%～20.84%,肥料添加量1.83～2.52 g/kg。在此范围内降解菌W2对异噁草酮有效成分浓度为500 μg/kg的风干土壤30 d后的降解率可达60%以上,可接近该修复天数的理论极值65.56%。     

Factors controlling degradation of pesticides in soil

Rates of pesticide degradation in soil exhibit a high degree of variability, the sources of which are usually unclear. Combining data from incubations performed using a range of soil properties and environmental conditions has resulted in greater understanding of factors controlling such degradation. The herbicides clomazone, flumetsulam, atrazine, and cloransulam-methyl, as well as the former insecticide naphthalene offer examples of degradation kinetics controlled by coupling competing processes which may in turn be regulated separately by environmental conditions and soil properties. The processes of degradation and volatilization appear to compete for clomazone in solution; sorbed clomazone is degraded only after the solution phase is depleted. Similarly, volatilization of naphthalene is enhanced when degradation has been inhibited by high nutrient levels. Degradation of the herbicide flumetsulam has been shown to be regulated by sorption, even though the compound has a relatively low affinity for the soil. The fate pathway for cloransulam-methyl shifts from mineralization to formation of metabolities, bound residues and physically occluded material as temperature increases. Atrazine degradation in soil may be controlled in part by the presence of inorganic nitrogen, as the herbicide appears to be used as a nitrogen source by micro-organisms. New insight gained from measurement of multiple fate processes is demonstrated by these examples.     

Responses to clomazone and 5-ketoclomazone by Echinochloa phyllopogon resistant to multiple herbicides in Californian rice fields

BACKGROUND: Late watergrass [Echinochloa phyllopogon (Stapf.) Koss.] is a major weed of Californian rice that has evolved P450-mediated metabolic resistance to multiple herbicides. Resistant (R) populations are also poorly controlled by the recently introduced herbicide clomazone. The authors assessed whether this cross-resistance was also P450 mediated, and whether R plants also had reduced sensitivity to photooxidation. Understanding mechanism(s) of resistance facilitates the design of herbicide management strategies to delay resistance evolution.RESULTS Ratios (R/S) of R to susceptible (S) GR(50) were near 2.0. [(14)C]Clomazone uptake was similar in R and S plants. Clomazone and its metabolite 5-ketoclomazone reduced chlorophyll and carotenoids in S more than in R plants. The P450 inhibitors disulfoton and 1-aminobenzo-triazole (ABT) safened clomazone in R and S plants. Disulfoton safened 5-ketoclomazone only in S plants, while ABT synergized 5-ketoclomazone mostly against S plants. Paraquat was more toxic in S than in R plants.CONCLUSION: Cross-resistance to clomazone explains failures to control R plants in rice fields, and safening by P450 inhibitors suggests that oxidative activation of clomazone is needed for toxicity to E. phyllopogon. Clomazone resistance requires mitigation of 5-ketoclomazone toxicity, but P450 detoxification may not significantly confer resistance, as P450 inhibitors poorly synergized 5-ketoclopmazone in R plants. Responses to paraquat suggest research on mechanisms to mitigate photooxidation in R and S plants is needed. Copyright (c) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry.     

Effects of the aglycone of ascaulitoxin on amino acid metabolism in Lemna paucicostata

Ascaulitoxin and its aglycone (2,4,7-triamino-5-hydroxyoctanoic acid, CAS 212268-55-8) are potent phytotoxins produced by Ascochyta caulina, a plant pathogen being developed for biocontrol of weeds. The mode of action of this non-protein amino acid was studied on Lemna paucicostata. Ascaulitoxin is a potent growth inhibitor, with an I₅₀ for growth of less than 1 μM, almost completely inhibiting growth at about 3 μM. Its action is slow, starting with growth inhibition, followed by darker green fronds, and then chlorosis and death. Most amino acids, including non-toxic non-protein amino acids, reversed the effect of the toxin when supplemented in the same medium. Supplemental sucrose slightly increased the activity. d-Amino acids were equally good inhibitors of ascaulitoxin activity, indicating the amino acid effects may not be due to inhibition of amino acid synthesis. Oxaloacetate, the immediate precursor of aspartate, also reversed the activity. LC-MS did not detect interaction of the compound with lysine, an amino acid that strongly reversed the effect of the phytotoxin. Metabolite profiling revealed that the toxin caused distinct changes in amino acids. Reduction in alanine, paralleled by enhanced levels of the branched chain amino acids valine, leucine and isoleucine and nearly unchanged levels of pyruvate, might indicate that the conversion of pyruvate to alanine is affected by ascaulitoxin aglycone. In addition, reduced levels of glutamate/glutamine and aspartate/asparagine might suggest that synthesis and interconversion reactions of these amino group donors are affected. However, neither alanine aminotransferase nor alanine: glyoxylate aminotransferase were inhibited by the toxin in vitro. Our observations might be explained by three hypotheses: (1) the toxin inhibits one or more aminotransferases not examined, (2) ascaulitoxin aglycone affects amino acid transporters, (3) ascaulitoxin aglycone is a protoxin that is converted in vivo to an aminotransferase inhibitor.     

Evaluation of herbicides for selective weed control in grafted watermelons

Grafted watermelon is a combination of two plants, aCucurbita rootstock and a watermelon scion. Therefore, weed control for this crop faces a unique problem: the safety of the selected herbicide has to be tested for both plants that make up the grafted plant. In the current study, we evaluated the usage safety of selected herbicides forCucurbita rootstocks as well as for non-grafted and grafted watermelons, and the control ofAmaranthus retroflexus by the same herbicides. In addition, the residual effect of the herbicides was tested for seeded and transplanted melons representing the next crop following cultivation of the grafted watermelons. The herbicides ethalfluralin, pendimethalin, ethalfluralin, sulfentrazone, oxyfluorfen, chlorsulfuron and clomazone were chosen for their potential to controlA. retroflexus. Pendimethalin and trifluralin were less effective than the other herbicides in controllingA. retroflexus; sulfentrazone, chlorsulfuron and clomazone were not safe for use on the tested cucurbits and thus cannot be recommended for weed control in grafted watermelons. Therefore, by eliminating the herbicides that are toxic to cucurbits and those that are ineffective forA. retroflexus control, it was concluded that the herbicides ethalfluralin and oxyfluorfen can be considered effective and safe for weed control in grafted watermelons. It was shown that trifluralin and oxyfluorfen have the potential to be applied effectively through the drip irrigation system. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 10, 2008.     

Effect of Mono-oxygenase Inhibitors on Uptake,Metabolism and Phytotoxicity of Propanil in Resistant Biotypes of Jungle-Rice,Echinochloa Colona

The effect of the mono-oxygenase inhibitors tridiphane, piperonyl butoxide and prochloraz on propanil uptake, metabolism and phytotoxicity was measured in a resistant (R) biotype of Echinochloa colona. The uptake of propanil was not significantly affected by any of the three mono-oxygenase inhibitors. The first metabolite of propanil metabolism, 3,4-dichloroaniline, was found to accumulate to higher levels in E. colona treated with each of the mono-oxygenase inhibitors mixed with formulated propanil, compared to propanil applied alone. Accumulation of further metabolites of propanil (glucosyl-3,4-dichloroaniline and bound products) was reduced in the presence of mono-oxygenase inhibitors, compared with propanil application alone. Leaf damage caused by a single drop of propanil compared to propanil+mono-oxygenase inhibitor was used to assess the degree of propanil tolerance in E. colona biotypes. Leaf damage was significantly greater in propanil+mono-oxygenase inhibitor treatments. No leaf damage was observed in mono-oxygenase inhibitor treatments alone at the concentrations used. Peroxidase activity was measured in crude extracts of the R-biotype of E. colona using 3,4-dichloroaniline as substrate, in the presence and absence of mono-oxygenase inhibitors and the specific peroxidase inhibitor salicylhydroxamic acid. Peroxidase activity was inhibited by all three mono-oxygenase inhibitors at 10 μM and by salicylhydroxamic acid at 1 μM . Glucosyl-3,4-dichloroaniline was found not to be a substrate for peroxidase activity. These results suggest that the incorporation of 3,4-dichloroaniline into bound residues involves peroxidase activity which can be inhibited by mono-oxygenase inhibitors. When peroxidase activity is inhibited, the precursor metabolite 3,4-dichloroaniline accumulates, and propanil resistance in E. colona is reduced, possibly as a consequence of phytotoxicity of this metabolite and/or product inhibition of the first step in propanil metabolism, responsible for the formation of 3,4-dichloroaniline. Glasshouse trials have demonstrated that the application of mono-oxygenase inhibitors, (particularly tridiphane which is also known to inhibit glutathione transferase activity) with propanil offers a promising approach to the control of propanil resistant biotypes of Jungle-Rice. © 1997 SCI.     

Enhanced Degradation of the Fungicide Vinclozolin: Isolation and Characterisation of a Responsible Organism

Enhanced degradation of the fungicide vinclozolin was stimulated by multiple successive applications to a soil without any history of previous pesticide input. A vinclozolin-degrading bacterium isolated from this soil was identified as a strain of Pseudomonas putida. This organism metabolised vinclozolin as a source of carbon, but it would neither grow with nor transform any other closely related dicarboximide fungicides nor the degradation product, 3,5-DCA. The degradation of vinclozolin by cultures of P. putida St-1 was investigated under various culture conditions; biodegradation was optimal at 23°C, pH 6·5 and inoculum densities of 10⁷ cells ml⁻¹ but cultures would grow from as little as 100 cells ml⁻¹. Amendments of the vinclozolin-degrading isolate to soil previously untreated with the fungicide caused rapid degradation of applied vinclozolin, whereas amendments of boiled cells, or viable cells grown in the absence of vinclozolin, produced no discernible effect on the rate of vinclozolin degradation.     

The high potency of ME-5343 to aphids is due to a unique mechanism of action

ME-5343 (afidopyropen) is a new and promising insecticide with an unknown mechanism of action that is effective against sucking insects. ME-5343 was highly toxic to pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum), being more toxic than six other widely used insecticides. In contrast, ME-5343 was practically non-toxic to eight other species of insects we tested. ME-5343 was not toxic to German cockroaches (topical application) or American cockroaches (injection), suggesting that lack of toxicity in these species is not due to lack of cuticular penetration. House flies are insensitive to ME-5343 by topical, residual and feeding exposure. Addition of synergists did not change this result, suggesting that insensitivity to ME-5343 in house flies is not due to rapid detoxification nor is it dependent on the method of bioassay used. ME-5343 did not cause firefly lanterns to glow, nor did it prevent the octopamine stimulated lantern glow. Extracellular recordings of action potentials from a tonically active motor nerve of crayfish in situ showed no effects of ME-5343 at concentrations up to 10⁻⁵ M. These results suggest that the target site of ME-5343 is not the voltage gated sodium channel, voltage gated potassium channel, GABA gated chloride channel, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, acetylcholinesterase, octopamine receptor or glutamate receptor. ME-5343 injected into crayfish caused flextion of the legs and tail, similar to the symptoms induced by 5-HT (serotonin). We evaluated the effect of ME-5343 on 5-HT2-like receptors with intracellular recordings of excitatory post-synaptic potentials from the peripheral neuromuscular junction of the crayfish and found no effect of ME-5343. Thus, ME-5343 was neither an agonist nor antagonist of 5-HT2 receptors, did not affect neurotransmitter release and did not affect glutamate receptors. We conclude that ME-5343 is highly toxic to aphids and that this is due to a unique, and currently undefined mechanism of action.     

Inhibitors of juvenile hormone biosynthesis in corpora allata of the cockroach Periplaneta americana (L.) in vitro

The spontaneous biosynthesis of methyl (2E,6E)-(10R)-10,11-epoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,6-dienoate (juvenile hormone III; JH III) in excised corpora allata of Periplaneta americana was inhibited by a number of synthetic prop-2-ynyl ethers and 1,3-benzodioxole derivatives. One structurally diverse group of compounds inhibited only the final biosynthetic enzyme methyl farnesoate epoxidase (EC.1.14.14.–) at low to moderate concentrations, but at higher concentrations, also inhibited methyl farnesoate (MF) formation, causing an accumulation of MF in the concentration range 10 to 100 μM. For a second, more limited, group of compounds, there was close congruence between the inhibition of JH III biosynthesis and that of total ester (MF plus JH III) biosynthesis over their effective inhibitory concentration ranges. In contrast to the first group, there was no accumulation of MF and these compounds evidently inhibited JH III biosynthesis, at the level of either farnesoic acid esterification by O-methyl transferase (EC.2.1.1.–), or at an earlier step in the biosynthetic pathway that remains to be elucidated.     

Inhibitors of appressorium formation in Magnaporthe grisea: a new approach to control rice blast disease

Fungi were screened for the production of inhibitors of appressorium formation in germinating conidiospores of Magnaporthe grisea on inductive and non-inductive surfaces. Bioactivity-guided isolation yielded glisoprenins A, C, D and E from Gliocladium roseum and oleic acid from three fungi. The glisoprenins were active only on a hydrophobic surface, whereas oleic acid inhibited appressorium formation on a hydrophilic surface when 1,16-hexadecanediol, but not 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate, was used as inducer. The inhibition by glisoprenins could be reversed competitively by 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol but not by 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol, both effective activators of protein kinase C in mammalian cells. Other mono-unsaturated fatty acids also inhibited appressorium formation. The corresponding methyl esters were inactive. The results agree with previous findings that at least two signal-transducing pathways are involved in appressorium formation. In addition, the differences observed between fungal signalling via PKC and the pathway used in mammalian cells could be used for the search for new and selective fungicides for rice blast disease. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of herbicide clomazone on photosynthetic processes in primary barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) leaves

The effect of pre-emergently applied herbicide clomazone on the photosynthetic apparatus of primary barley leaves (Hordeum vulgare L.) was studied. Clomazone application caused a reduction in chlorophyll (a+b) and carotenoid levels that was accompanied by a decline in the content of light harvesting complexes as judged from the increasing chlorophyll a/b ratio. The pigment reduction also resulted in changes in 77 K chlorophyll fluorescence emission spectra indicating lower chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence reabsorption and absence of the long-wavelength emission forms of photosystem I. The maximal photochemical yield of photosystem II (PSII) and the reoxidation kinetics of the primary quinone acceptor Q_A⁻ were not significantly influenced by clomazone. A higher initial slope of Chl fluorescence rise in the Chl fluorescence induction kinetic indicated an increased delivery of excitations to PSII. Simultaneously, analysis of the Chl fluorescence quenching revealed that clomazone reduced function of the electron transport chain behind PSII. The decrease in the saturation rates of CO₂ assimilation paralleled the decrease of the Chl content and has been suggested to be caused by a suppressed number of the electron transport chains in the thylakoid membranes or by their decreased functionality. The obtained results are discussed in view of physiological similarity of the clomazone effect with changes of photosynthetic apparatus during photoadaptation.     

Dry mycelium of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium chrysogenum</Emphasis> induces resistance against verticillium wilt and enhances growth of cotton plants

Dry mycelium (DM) ofPenicillium chrysogenum and its water extract (DME) were examined for their effects on induced resistance against Verticillium wilt and plant growth of cotton in the greenhouse. Soil application of 0.1–5% DM or 0.5–5% DME provided significant protection against the wilt, relative to the control. As neither DM nor DME inhibited mycelial growth ofVerticillium dahliae in vitro, it is suggested that the disease-controlling effects of DM or DME are attributed to induced resistance. DME (5%), as well as DME treated with chloroform or cold acetone, were as effective as 2% DM in reducing disease severity of Verticillium wilt, implying that the resistance-inducing substance(s) in DM are mostly water-soluble, with neither proteins nor lipids likely to be responsible for the induction of resistance. No significant difference in root colonization withV. dahliae was found between control-inoculated and 2% DM- or 5% DME-inoculated plants. However, colonization of hypocotyls and epicotyls was drastically suppressed by either 2% DM or 5% DME relative to the control. Treatments with 2% DM or 5% DME significantly increased ionically-bound peroxidase (POX) activity in roots, hypocotyls and the second leaf of cotton plants, with the hypocotyls expressing the highest increase. Soil application of DM or DME increased plant height, fresh and dry weight of inoculated and non-inoculated cotton plants, relative to their corresponding controls. It is concluded that DM may be used in cotton crops to promote plant growth and to induce resistance againstV. dahliae. POX might be associated with the defense against Verticillium wilt. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 9, 2002.     

Phytotoxic activity of middle-chain fatty acids II: peroxidation and membrane effects

Pelargonic acid (PA), an aliphatic 9-carbon monocarboxylic acid, is a phytotoxic burn-down compound. In the light peroxidizing activity can be measured as ethane and propane formation with cress or tobacco seedlings. This effect is strong at low pH (4–5), and saturated acids with 9–10 carbon atoms represent the optimum chain length. Methyl or ethyl esters are inactive, and safeners have no influence. In contrast to the peroxidative herbicides like acifluorfen methyl neither photosynthesis nor protoporphyrin IX is involved, although peroxidation requires light. Chlorophyll is necessary since etiolated seedlings show little peroxidation. Singlet oxygen quenchers like eugenol markedly reduce peroxidation. Membrane leakage of a similar rate is observed in light as well as in darkness. PA was described as a penetration enhancer intercalating with membranes. Our data corroborate that conclusion. Accordingly, the herbicidal mode of action of pelargonic acid is due first to membrane leakage in dark or light and second to peroxidation driven by radicals originating in the light by sensitized chlorophyll displaced from the thylakoids.     

Proteomics-based analysis reveals that Verticillium dahliae toxin induces cell death by modifying the synthesis of host proteins

Verticillium dahliae is one of the most destructive soil-borne fungal pathogens that cause vascular wilt diseases in a wide range of important crop plants, including cotton. However, the mechanisms used by this pathogen to infect cotton have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we first investigated changes in protein abundance during the initial interaction between cotton roots and V. dahliae. Among the proteins that were upregulated upon infection, some were related to reactive oxygen species (ROS); among those downregulated upon infection were proteins involved in normal metabolism or cell structure. Further experiments confirmed that a sudden release of ROS and cell death accompany V. dahliae infection in the cotton vasculature. Further analysis indicated that a culture supernatant of V. dahliae induced lesion formation in tobacco leaves; de novo protein synthesis not active gene expression was required for this induction. Lesion formation was dependent on the age of leaves, but neither the known ROS burst nor the ubiquitin/26S proteasome system are prerequisites.     

Inhibition of DNA synthesis in boll weevils (Anthonomus grandis boheman) sterilized by dimilin

When boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, were treated with dimilin (N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N′-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)urea), the biosynthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid was inhibited in the female, but neither ribonucleic acid nor protein synthesis was affected. Treated males showed a difference in effect in lipoprotein synthesis, whereas no significant difference was demonstrated with females. Testicular growth was inhibited in some of the males. Diminishment of sexual function may therefore result in part from inhibition of biosynthesis of DNA by dimilin.