Species and sex differences in the reductive dechlorination of DDT by supplemented liver preparations

p,p′-DDT was converted to DDD, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane, by unheated 12,000g supernate supplemented with NADPH, made from liver of rat, mouse, hamster, quail, chicken and pigeon. The additional presence of exogenous riboflavin did not augment reduction. If, however, riboflavin was added to unheated microsomes supplemented with NADPH or NADH the rate of reduction was more than doubled.Heated 12,000g supernate, unsupplemented or containing only exogenous riboflavin, did not reduce DDT. When NAD(P)H was present, big species differences in activity occurred, the pigeon and cockerel scarcely reducing any DDT in 2 hr, the Wistar rat supernate being most active. Addition to heated 12,000g supernate of 30 μg riboflavin as well as NAD(P)H resulted in increased reductive activity for all six species. The species difference in effect of exogenous riboflavin between the pigeon and rat was also observed using four DDT analogs as substrates. A sex-related difference in activity of preheated, supplemented 12,000g supernate from livers of the chicken and Norwegian hooded rat was not found when unheated preparations were used. In contrast to the activity possessed by preheated 12,000g supernate of rat liver supplemented with NAD(P)H, similarly supplemented preheated microsomes did not reduce DDT. On adding riboflavin as well as NAD(P)H, however, preheated hepatic microsomes of both pigeon and rat produced DDD, and this activity was further increased by addition of unheated microsomal (105,000g) supernate. The biocatalytic system functioning in preheated preparations appears to need at least one component of heated microsomes, NAD(P)H and one or more water-soluble components.     

诊断施肥综合法（DRIS）在渭北旱塬红富士 苹果营养诊断中的应用

本研究通过提前叶片采样时期,运用诊断施肥综合法(DRIS)对不同产量水平红富士苹果进行了叶片矿质营养诊断,以期为早期红富士苹果营养诊断与科学施肥提供依据.测定诊断结果表明,渭北旱塬红富士苹果叶片N、P、K、Ca、Mg、Cu、Fe、Mn、Zn的适宜值分别为26.04±3.50 g·kg-1、2.84+0.74 g·kg-1、15.05±4.08 g·kg-1、14.25±3.04 g·kg-1、3.15±0.73 g·kg-1、12.69±3.14 mg· kg-1、262.87±82.05 mg·kg-1、96.33±33.35 mg·kg-1、23.57±10.13 mg·kg-1.选择的DRIS诊断参数中,除N/Zn、Cu/P、P/Zn、Ca/Zn、Mg/Zn和Cu/Zn外,30种表示形式的变异系数均表现出低产组(＜ 25 kg·tree-1)大于高产组(＜25 kg·tree-1);高产组和低产组的养分不平衡指数(NII)分别为73和88.相对于高产组,低产组元素间关系更不平衡.总体而言,渭北旱塬区红富士苹果园除产量高于41.3kg· tree-需肥顺序排在第一位的元素为Cu外,其它均为P;需肥顺序排在第二位的元素高产为K,低产果园仅当产量低于10.2 kg·tree-1时为K,其余为Zn;而排在第三位的,高产均为Ca,低产均为Mg.     

Enantioselective metabolism and cytotoxicity of the chiral herbicide ethofumesate in rat and chicken hepatocytes

We investigated the metabolic kinetics and toxicity of ethofumesate (ETO) in rat and chicken hepatocytes using a chiral high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. The metabolic of ETO in rat hepatocytes was enantioselective, whereas it was not in chicken hepatocytes. The T_1/2 of (−)-ETO was about two times longer than that of (+)-ETO after the rat hepatocytes had been incubated with 20 μM rac-ETO. There was no chiral conversion or transformation during their incubation with the hepatocytes. Toxicity differences were observed between the two enantiomers of ETO, reflected in their EC₅₀ values in rat and chicken hepatocytes. The stereoselective cytotoxicity of the two enantiomers was opposite in rat and chicken hepatocytes. We have developed a method of studying the toxicokinetics and cytotoxicity of chiral agrochemicals in hepatocytes isolated from mammals (rats) and chicken. The data presented here allow a more thorough understanding of this pesticide and should be useful in its full environmental assessment.     

Uptake of dieldrin,lindane, and DDT by isolated rat hepatocytes

Studies of the uptake of dieldrin, lindane, and DDT by isolated rat hepatocytes in Krebs-Henseleit salt solution containing 2.34% bovine serum albumin have shown that the partition equilibrium of these hydrophobic organochlorine compounds is established very rapidly between the hepatocytes and the extracellular medium by reversible uptake and release processes. In the hepatocyte suspension system, these compounds are in dynamic partition equilibrium between the hepatocytes and the Krebs-Henseleit salt solution, and also between the bovine serum albumin molecules and the solution. The respective rate constants for the uptake and release processes were 0.83 and 2.52 × 10^?2 sec^?1 in a 2-ml suspension containing 10⁶ cells. It has thus been demonstrated that the transport of hydrophobic organochlorine compounds between the hepatocytes and the extracellular medium is a much faster process than the metabolic transformation reaction in hepatocytes.     

Isolation of microsomal cytochrome-p450 isozymes from Ustilago maydis and their interaction with sterol demethylation inhibitors

A procedure for the isolation of microsomes containing cytochrome-P450 isozymes from Ustilago maydis is described. Yields of P450 amount to approximately 19(±+ 6) pmol mg^?1 of microsomal protein. The wavelength of maximum absorbance of the reduced carbon monoxide difference spectrum is 448-449 nm. The azole fungicides prochloraz, etaconazole, imazalil, triadimefon and 3-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-4(3H)-quinazoline, which differ markedly in toxicity to U. maydis, all induce type II binding difference spectra at extremely low concentrations (10^?9-10^?8 M). The DMI concentrations which cause half saturation of type II binding difference spectra (IC₅₀) do not correlate with the fungicidal activities of the azoles. Binding of carbon monoxide to ferrous cytochrome-P450 was only slightly inhibited to different degrees by the DMIs tested. However, the inhibition of carbon monoxide binding also does not correlate with fungitoxicity of the DMIs. The results in this paper suggest that the spectrophotometric studies with this preparation are not useful for evaluating selective toxicity of DMIs to intact sporidia of U. maydis.     

猕猴桃园和小麦—玉米轮作田两种土地利用方式对土壤养分状况的影响

为深入了解不同土地利用方式下土壤养分水平的差异及施肥和管理中存在的问题,选取陕西省周至县农耕区为研究区域,采用地统计分析和GIS相结合的方法,研究了猕猴桃园和小麦—玉米轮作田两种不同土地利用类型下土壤养分含量、养分相关性、空间变异特征及其分布格局。结果表明:猕猴桃园有机质、碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾4种养分含量分别为:(19.55±3.13)g·kg~(~(-1)),(80.58±14.69)mg·kg~(~(-1)),(23.37±6.09)mg·kg~(~(-1)),(102.79±12.74)mg·kg~(~(-1)),pH值为7.32±0.49;小麦—玉米农田有机质、碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾4种养分含量分别为:(19.43±2.63)g·kg~(~(-1)),(78.80±11.39)mg·kg~(~(-1)),(24.83±6.06)mg·kg~(~(-1)),(95.03±11.75)mg·kg~(~(-1)),pH值为7.41±0.58。猕猴桃园土壤有机质、碱解氮和速效钾含量均高于小麦—玉米农田,仅有效磷含量比小麦—玉米农田偏低。研究区主要养分要素的变异系数都处于10%~100%,属于中等空间变异性。在猕猴桃园中,有机质、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾两两之间均呈极显著或显著正相关;在小麦—玉米农田,pH值与有机质表现出显著负相关。研究区土壤有效磷含量较为丰富,碱解氮含量处于中等偏高水平,有机质含量处于中等偏低水平,而速效钾含量总体缺乏。整体上猕猴桃园比小麦—玉米农田养分水平高,这主要与不同的田间管理和施肥状况有关。因此,今后应采取维持氮肥、控制磷肥、增加钾肥的措施,并十分重视有机肥的使用。此外,针对不同土地利用类型和土壤肥力状况进行分区培肥管理,普及科学施肥,提高肥料利用效率也是提升土壤肥力水平的重要措施。     

Resistance to insecticides in winter- and summer-forms of pear psylla,Psylla pyricola

Summer-form pear psylla, Psylla pyricola Foerster, from sprayed pear were resistant to endosulfan (2·4-fold), methiocarb (2·5-fold), ethylan (5·8-fold), azinphos-methyl (7·7-fold), and fenvalerate (40·1-fold). Esterase (3·8-fold), glutathione transferase (1·8-fold), and cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase (1·6-fold) detoxification enzyme activity was higher in resistant than in susceptible summer forms. Synergism by piperonyl butoxide and S,S,S-tributylphosphorotrithioate (DEF) was added evidence for cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases and esterases as resistance mechanisms. Reduced penetration may also have contributed to resistance, as indicated by a 1·6-fold slower penetration of azinphos-methyl in resistant than susceptible summer-forms. Similar differences in insecticide toxicity and esterase and glutathione transferase activities were observed between winter-forms of resistant and susceptible pear psylla. Winter-forms of P. pyricola were up to three times more tolerant to insecticides than summer-forms. Higher cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase activity (1·7-fold) and slower azinphosmethyl penetration (2·1-fold) in winter-forms may have contributed to their greater insecticide tolerance; however, sequestration may also have been involved.     

Presence of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors in the Cattle Tick Boophilus microplus and in Epithelial Tissue Culture Cells of Chironomus tentans

A muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) has been demonstrated and partially characterized in larvae of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus. Its properties are compared with mAChR from an epithelial cell line from the dipteran insect Chironomus tentans. Competition studies with cholinergic ligands of different specificity revealed the muscarinic nature of the cholinergic receptors investigated in both species. In homogenates from tick larvae, specific binding sites for [³H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) with high affinity (1·2±(0·13) nM ; B_max 22·5 pmol mg protein⁻¹) were detected that do not bind nicotinic compounds specifically. The estimated IC₅₀ values for nicotine, imidacloprid and α-bungarotoxin were all in the mM range. Additionally, with tick larvae, high-affinity nicotinic binding sites were detected with [³H]nicotine which could be displaced by high concentrations of imidacloprid or QNB. The estimated IC₅₀ values for nicotine, α-bungarotoxin, imidacloprid and QNB were 43(±8) nM , 0·8(±0·2) μM , 2·8(±0·6) μM and 78(±1·9) μM , respectively. With homogenates of the non-neuronal insect cell line from C. tentans, only high-affinity binding sites for [³H]QNB were found. Muscarinic antagonists selectively displaced [³H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) binding to tick larvae homogenates. The mAChR of B. microplus preferred pirenzepine (IC₅₀ 2·13(±1·02) μM ) among different subtype-specific mAChR antagonists (4-DAMP had IC₅₀ 49·9(±9·13) μM and methoctramine had IC₅₀ 121(±14·2) μM ) indicating a type of binding site similar to the vertebrate M1 mAChR subtype. The tick muscarinic receptor seems to be a G-protein-coupled receptor, as concluded from the 4·8-fold reduction in receptor affinity for binding of the muscarinic agonist oxotremorine M upon treatment with the non-hydrolysable GTP-analogue γ-S-GTP. Binding data for the agonists oxotremorine M (IC₅₀ 71·3(±19·6) μM ) and carbachol (IC₅₀ 253(±87·1) μM ) parallel the biological efficacy of these compounds, in that, while oxotremorine M showed some activity against ticks, carbachol was ineffective.     

Effects of temperature,inoculum concentration,leaf age,and continuous and interrupted wetness on infection of olive plants by Spilocaea oleagina

Experiments were conducted on olive plants in controlled environments to determine the effect of conidial concentration, leaf age, temperature, continuous and interrupted leaf wetness periods, and relative humidity (RH) during the drier periods that interrupted wet periods, on olive leaf spot (OLS) severity. As inoculum concentration increased from 1·0 × 10² to 2·5 × 10⁵ conidia mL^?1, the severity of OLS increased at all five temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25°C). A simple polynomial model satisfactorily described the relationship between the inoculum concentration at the upper asymptote (maximum number of lesions) and temperature. The results showed that for the three leaf age groups tested (2–4, 6–8 and 10–12 weeks old) OLS severity decreased significantly (P < 0·001) with increasing leaf age at the time of inoculation. Overall, temperature also affected (P < 0·001) OLS severity, with the lesion numbers increasing gradually from 5°C to a maximum at 15°C, and then declining to a minimum at 25°C. When nine leaf wetness periods (0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h) were tested at the same temperatures, the numbers of lesions increased with increasing leaf wetness period at all temperatures tested. The minimum leaf wetness periods for infection at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25°C were 18, 12, 12, 12 and 24 h, respectively. The wet periods during early infection processes were interrupted with drying periods (0, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h) at two levels of RH (70 and 100%). The length of drying period had a significant (P < 0·001) effect on disease severity, the effect depending on the RH during the interruption. High RH (100%) resulted in greater disease severity than low RH (70%). A polynomial equation with linear and quadratic terms of temperature, wetness and leaf age was developed to describe the effects of temperature, wetness and leaf age on OLS infection, which could be incorporated as a forecasting component of an integrated system for the control of OLS.     

Pharmacokinetics of fenvalerate after intravenous administration to sheep

The pharmacokinetics of total radioactivity and of intact fenvalerate were determined in sheep treated intravenously with radiolabelled or non-radiolabelled fenvalerate. Mean residence times (MRT) of total radioactivity and intact fenvalerate in plasma were 910 (±75) and 39 (±3) min, while harmonic mean elimination-phase half-lives (TM_β) were 990 and 82 min, each respectively. Systemic clearance values (Cl_S) of total radioactivity and intact fenvalerate were 2·8 (±0·3) ml min⁻¹ kg⁻¹ and 51·3 (±5·9) ml min⁻¹ kg⁻¹, respectively. Volumes of distribution at steady state (V_SS) were each near 2500 ml kg⁻¹. Elimination of radioactivity occurred, in part (33·3 (±3·3)% of dose), by renal excretion, at a rate (0·9 (±0·1) ml min⁻¹ kg⁻¹), similar to that of glomerular filtration. These data are consistent with a disposition model according to which intact fenvalerate was rapidly distributed into a peripheral compartment, where metabolism occurred. In addition, since the elimination half-life of fenvalerate from plasma was less than 90 min after intravenous injection, ‘flip-flop’ kinetics should be considered when longer elimination half-lives are observed after oral or dermal exposures.     

Toxico‐kinetics,recovery efficiency and microsomal changes following administration of deltamethrin to black Bengal goats

A study of the toxico‐kinetics, recovery percentage from different substrates, cytotoxicity and role of cytochrome P₄₅₀ and b₅ of liver microsome in the metabolism of deltamethrin were carried out in female black Bengal goat. The ALD₅₀ value of deltamethrin in goat by intravenous route lies between 0.2 and 0.6 mg kg^?1. Intravenous disposition kinetics using a dose of 0.2 mg kg^?1 showed that the maximum blood concentration of deltamethrin was recorded at 0.5 min, followed by rapid decline, and a minimum concentration was detected at 6 min after administration. The following values were obtained : Vd_area 0.148 (± 0.02) litre kg^?1; t_1/2 (α) 0.22 (± 0.02) min; t_1/2 (β) 2.17 (± 0.37) min; K_el 1.05 (± 0.24) min^?1; AUC 4.30(± 0.45) µg min ml^?1; Cl_B 0.05 (± 0.006) litre kg^?1 min^?1; T～B 1.93 (± 0.58); fc 0.40(± 0.05). After 10 min, liver retained the maximum residue, and heart, adrenal gland, kidney, spleen, fat and brain also held the insecticide; liver, fat, heart and spleen retained residue after 30 min, and bone, liver and fat retained residue after 60 min of intravenous administration. Oral absorption of deltamethrin was poor and inconsistent, and approximately 65% of administered dose was recovered from faeces and gastrointestinal contents. The excretion of deltamethrin through urine was meagre, and only 0.01 and 0.013% of the administered dose was recovered after 3 and 5 days of oral administration respectively. All the tissues retained the residue after 3 days; while fat, rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum, large and small intestine and bone retained the residue after 5 days of oral administration; and the percentage recoveries were 1.73 and 0.027 respectively. Deltamethrin reduced the level of cytochrome P₄₅₀ content of liver microsomal pellet of goat after 5 days of oral administration. Histopathological examination of liver, kidney, heart, spleen brain and lung sections of treated goats did not reveal any pathological changes. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Residues of Mecoprop in Post-emergence-Treated Wheat and Oat

The dissipation of mecoprop in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) was monitored over a growing season following post-emergence application of the dimethylamine salt of mecoprop to each crop at 1·1 kg ha^?1. Residues of mecoprop, as its methyl ester, were determined gas chromatographically using electrolytic conductivity detection. Initial residues in wheat (119 (±20) mg kg^?1) and oat (95·3 (± 10·0) mg kg^?1) on the day of application (four-leaf stage of wheat and four- to five-leaf stage of oat) decreased to 0·1 to 0·2 mg kg^?1, respectively, within six weeks. Residues were non-detectable in the mature seed of both crops. Recoveries of mecoprop were in the order of 90% from the green tissue and seed of both crops fortified at 0·05 mg kg^?1.     

Behaviour of endosulfan residues in peppers,cucumbers and cherry tomatoes grown in greenhouse: evaluation by decline curves

Decline of endosulfan residues in pepper, cucumber and cherry tomatoes grown in greenhouses, and the corresponding statistical parameters, were evaluated assessing the formal approaches proposed by Timme, Frehse and Laska to study the behaviour of pesticide residues in crops. In all cases, the first-order reaction function was confirmed to describe the behaviour of endosulfan residues, but functions that best fit the experimental data were first-order for cucumber, RF-first-order for pepper and RF-1·5th-order for tomato. Half-life periods of endosulfan residues determined from the first-order function were 11·1(±1·3) days (cucumber), 15·2(±3·3) days (pepper) and 20·1(±6·6) days (tomato), whereas the values obtained from the optimal functions were close to 10 days for the three plantations. © 1997 SCI     

干播湿出灌水量和灌水频率对棉田土壤板结、水盐分布及出苗的影响

为探究干播湿出对棉花覆土板结程度、土壤水盐分布以及出苗情况的影响,设置不同出苗水量与灌水频率2个因素,共计6个处理和1个对照处理,分别为WP1（675 m³·hm^-2）、WP2（900 m³·hm^-2）、WP3（1 125 m³·hm^-2）、WP4\[（675+225) m³·hm^-2\]、WP5\[（675+450) m³·hm^-2\]、WP6\[（675+300+225) m³·hm^-2\]与冬灌处理,对各处理的表层覆土板结度、灌前与灌后含水率及含盐量、出苗率、株高、茎粗等指标进行分析。结果表明：表层土壤板结度受灌溉水总量与灌水频次影响,WP4处理表层土壤板结程度最低（99.87 kPa）,少量高频灌溉可以降低表层土壤板结度;各处理膜间电导率最大,高于窄行土壤9%以上;WP4处理出苗率最高（84.74%）;窄行电导率、窄行含水率和表层覆土板结度与出苗率均具有显著负相关关系,土壤含水率与窄行电导率与株高、茎粗均呈现显著负相关关系。通过评判各处理出苗率与生长指标,WP4处理为最优处理。     

甘露醇和烯效唑对培育马铃薯试管壮苗的影响

用不同浓度甘露醇和烯效唑处理马铃薯试管苗,来探究在组织培养条件下甘露醇和烯效唑对培育马铃薯试管苗壮苗的影响。试验设置对照组(CK)和处理组,处理组分别A(10 g·L~(-1)甘露醇)、B(20 g·L~(-1)甘露醇)、C(30 g·L~(-1)甘露醇)、D(40 g·L~(-1)甘露醇)、E(0.001 mg·L~(-1)烯效唑)、F(0.002 mg·L~(-1)烯效唑)、G(0.003mg·L~(-1)烯效唑)和H(0.004 mg·L~(-1)烯效唑)9个水平,分别在第30天和第60天取样测定。结果表明,培养30 d和60 d后,适宜浓度甘露醇(20 g·L~(-1))和烯效唑(0.003 mg·L~(-1))处理马铃薯试管苗,植株矮化(株高:82.54±3.84 mm和67.41±1.67 mm,30 d;93.74±1.30 mm和68.78±1.16 mm,60 d)且茎增粗(茎粗:1.45±0.03 mm和1.32±0.05 mm,30 d;1.80±0.13 mm和1.65±0.03 mm,60 d),鲜重达最大值(鲜重:1.35±0.04 g和1.32±0.04 g,30 d;1.75±0.09 g和1.53±0.04 g,60 d),马铃薯试管苗根长、根粗、根表面积和根体积也显著高于对照;同时,该处理下试管苗抗氧化酶超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性均达最大值。由此可知,甘露醇和烯效唑能促进马铃薯试管苗增粗矮化生长,使试管苗根系较发达,组织培养抗氧化酶活性增强,降低了活性氧对马铃薯试管苗造成的伤害,从而有利于培育壮苗。     

Aerobic Metabolism of Flupropacil in Sandy Loam Soil

The aerobic soil metabolism of [¹⁴C]flupropacil (isopropyl 2-chloro-5-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-trifluoromethylpyrimidin-1-yl)benzoate) was determined in microbially active, sieved (2-mm) sandy loam soil with a soil moisture content of 75% at 1/3 bar. The soil was treated with [¹⁴C]flupropacil at 0·5 mg kg⁻¹ (twice the field use rate) and placed in incubation flasks connected to a series of traps (50 g litre⁻¹ NaOH, 0·5M H₂SO₄, ethylene glycol) and incubated at 25(±1)°C. Soil was sampled at 0, 3, 9, 20, 30, 48, 76, 120, 181 and 238 days of aerobic incubation. Volatiles were collected once every two weeks and on the day of soil sampling. Flupropacil metabolized with a half-life of 79 days under aerobic conditions. The major metabolite was flupropacil acid which accounted for up to 69·1% of the initially applied radioactivity at Day 238. Each of the two minor metabolites detected at the end of the study accounted for less than 0·5%. One of the minor metabolites was identified as C4242 acid (2-chloro-5-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-2,6-dioxo-4-trifluoromethylpyrimidin-1-yl)benzoic acid). Only a negligible portion (less than 0·3%) of the applied flupropacil was mineralized to [¹⁴C]carbon dioxide. Extractable radioactivity ranged from 78·9% to 95·5%, with bound residues accounting for 3·2%–23·4%. The material balance ranged from 91·6% to 104·4%.     

Genetic variation in herbicide resistance in scentless mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Schultz Bip.) II. Intraspeciffc variation in response to ioxynil and MCPA, and the role of spray retention characteristics

Forty-eight populations of Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.), Schultz Bip. (scentless mayweed) were collected from southern Britain and northern France between 1970 and 1972 and screened simultaneously for resistance to the herbicides ioxynil and MCPA. The mean fresh weights per plant in different population samples sprayed with ioxynil at 28 mg/m² a.i. ranged from 2·2 to 39·5% of those of the corresponding controls, with a mean for all populations of 20·0 ± 1·09%, and the mean fresh weights per plant in different population samples sprayed with MCPA at 175 mg/m² a.e. ranged from 10·3 to 60·1% of those of the corresponding controls, with a mean for all populations of 43·0 ± 1·60%. Resistance to ioxynil differed significantly between populations from different geographic areas but showed no correlation with spraying history. Resistance to MCPA also differed significantly between populations from different geographic areas, and showed a strong positive correlation with ioxynil resistance, but MCPA resistance was significantly greater in populations with a history of heavy spraying than in other populations. Spray retention and other physical characteristics were measured in six populations, but showed no correlation with herbicide resistance. It is suggested that most of the differences in herbicide resistance between populations of T. inodorum are side effects of genotypic differentiation in physiological characters not directly related to herbicide resistance, but that there has been some direct selection for resistance to MCPA.     

Effect of electrical conductivity on survival of Phytophthora alni,P. kernoviae and P. ramorum in a simulated aquatic environment

This study investigated survival of the pathogens Phytophthora ramorum, P. alni and P. kernoviae as zoospores or sporangia in response to an important water quality parameter, electrical conductivity (EC), at its range in irrigation water reservoirs and irrigated cropping systems. Experiments with different strengths of Hoagland’s solution showed that all three pathogens survived at a broad range of EC levels for at least 3 days and were stimulated to grow and sporulate at ECs > 1·89 dS m^?1. Recovery of initial populations after a 14‐day exposure was over 20% for P. alni subsp. alni and P. kernoviae, and 61·3% and 130% for zoospores and sporangia of P. ramorum, respectively. Zoospore survival of these pathogens at ECs < 0·41 dS m^?1 was poor, barely beyond 3 days in pure water; only 0·3% (P. alni), 2·9% (P. kernoviae) and 15·1% (P. ramorum) of the initial population survived after 14 days at EC = 0·21 dS m^?1. The variation in rates of survival at different EC levels suggests that these pathogens survive better in cropping systems than in irrigation water. Containment of run‐off and reduction in EC levels may therefore be non‐chemical control options to reduce the risk of pathogen spread through natural waterways and irrigation systems.     

Cholinesterase inhibition by methamidophos and its subsequent reactivation

Methamidophos (O,S-dimethylphosphoramidothioate, Monitor) is an organophosphorus, cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticide. The rate constant (k_i) for inhibiting rat plasma cholinesterase (ChE) was 1.57 ± 0.03 × 10³M^?1 min^?1, for rat erythrocyte ChE was 8.86 ± 1.10 × 10³M^?1 min^?1, and for rat brain ChE was 6.58 ± 0.42 M^?1 min^?1. Brain and plasma cholinesterases spontaneously recovered from over 90% inhibition at 30 min to 50% inhibition in 4 and 14 hr, respectively. Pralidoxime increased the rate of reactivation in vitro. In vivo, rats poisoned with methamidophos exhibited signs of cholinergic stimulation. The LD₅₀ of ip methamidophos in male rats was 15 ± 0.7 mg/kg. Pralidoxime (60 mg/kg) and atropine (10 mg/kg) given with the methamidophos increased the LD₅₀ to 52 ± 4.9 mg/kg and 60 ± 0.4 mg/kg, respectively. In rats given 12.5 mg methamidophos (an LD₂₀), ChE activity was depressed 95 ± 12.5% in plasma, 92 ± 0.6% in stomach, and 88 ± 1% in brain at 1 hr after injection. At 48 hr after injection ChE activity had returned to 60% or more of control values in each of the tissues. Administration of a single dose of 60 mg/kg of pralidoxime along with methamidophos did not increase ChE activities at the times and places it was measured.     

Leaching of Methyl Isothiocyanate in Plainfield Sand Chemigated with Metam-Sodium

Soil column studies were undertaken to investigate the influence of soil water content and irrigation on leaching, distribution and persistence of methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) in a sandy soil chemigated with the soil fumigant metam-sodium. No leaching was obtained from columns at low water content (0·042 or 0·074 cm³ cm⁻³). However, 8·4 (±2·8), 34·2 (±7·4) and 119·4 (±8·3) μg of MITC leached from columns at 0·105, 0·137 and 0·168 cm³ cm⁻³ water content, respectively. Increased leaching resulted from sprinkler application of 25-mm of water to columns at 0·137 cm³ cm⁻³ water content. Leaching of MITC constituted only a small fraction of the amount applied even in the worst case. Methyl isothiocyanate persisted in soil for 15 days at 2°C in varying amounts under the different water regimes. Relatively high amounts of MITC residues (8–12 mg kg⁻¹ soil) were detected in the top 25-cm layer of all the soil columns. Degradation was the major pathway of dissipation for the chemical despite the soil water regime.