The movement of paraquat as influenced by the partition coefficient of surfactants between water and leaf wax

“Lissapol” NX and “Lubrol” L, used to improve the uptake of paraquat into plants were found in earlier work to reduce its movement. Several series of surfactants with widely varying solubilities in water were partitioned between cabbage wax and water. A marked correlation was found between the effect of surfactants on the movement of paraquat and the amount of surfactant partitioning into the wax. It is concluded that although surfactants increase the uptake of paraquat into leaves, this increase is offset by reduced movement following penetration of surfactants into leaf tissue. Surfactant partition into wax reduces the degree of penetration, but there is no evidence how surfactants in leaf tissue reduce movement.     

Weed communities of winter wheat as influenced by input level and rotation

The influence of cropping systems constituted by the combination of three input levels (low, intermediate and high) and four 2-year rotations between a spring summer crop and winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) on the density and composition of the winter wheat weed flora was evaluated from 1989 to 1992. Spring summer crops were maize ( Zea mays L.). soyabean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.). sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris L.) and sunflower ( Helianthus and L.) Total weed density at the end of the wheat tillering stage ranged from 2.5 to 128.7 plants m^-2 and generally decreased with cropping intensity, although to a differing extent, depending upon rotation. Differences among weed communities of the 12 cropping systems were mostly dependent upon input level. The effect of the preceding crop on the weed flora composition of winter wheat was evident only with reduced herbicide use (low-input systems). Weed species could be ascribed to four categories: (a) species sporadically associated with cropping systems (most of the weeds); (b) species associated with a specific input level (e.g. Papaver rhoeas L. to low and intermediate input levels and Veronica persica Poiret to the high input ievel): (c) species associated with a specific rotation (e.g. Anm majus L. to sugar beet winter wheat): and (d) species associated with specitie plots that become important every other year (e.g. Convolvulus arvensis L. and Stellaria media (L.) Vill.).     

Penetration of bracken fronds by amitrole as influenced by pre-spraying conditions, surfactants and other additives

Amitrole (3-amino-l,2,4-triazole) penetration on foliar application to bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) is influenced by pre-spray conditions. With the exception of Triton X-405 all surfactants tested at a concentration of approximately 01% (w/v) viz., Tween 20, Triton GR-5, Triton X-100 and Tergetol NPX, improved penetration by more than 17%. Ammonium thiocyanate and ammonium nitrate both enhanced penetration while ammonium sulphate had no effect. Either phosphoric acid alone or in combination with ammonium nitrate reduced penetration. All humectants used were either deleterious or similar to the water control in their effect. Sucrose was shown to enhance penetration but the difference was not significant. Influence des conditions précédant le traitement, des mouillants et d'autres additifs sur la pénétration de l'amitrole dans le frondes de fougéres La pénétration de I'amitrole (amino-3 triazole-1,2,4) en application foliaire sur la fougére aigle (Pteridium aquilinum) est influenceée par les conditions précédant le traitement. A l'exception du Triton X-405, tous les mouillants essayés à la concentration approximative de 0.1 % (pds/vol), à savoirile Tween 20, le Triton GR-5, le Triton X-100 et le Tergetai NPX, ont augmenté la pézétration de plus de 17 %. Le thiocyanate d'ammonium et le nitrate d'ammonium ont tous deux favorisé la pénétration, alors que le sulfate d'ammonium n'a pas eu d'effets. L'acide phosphorique, seul ou associé avec le nitrate d'ammonium, a réduit la pénétration. Tous les humidifiants utilisés se sont montrds soit néfastes soit analogues dans leurs effets au contrôle de l'eau. Le saccharose s'est révélé susceptible de favoriser la pénétration, mais la difference n'a pas été significative. Einfluss von Vorbehandlungen, Netzmitteln und anderen Zusätzen auf die Penetration von Amitrol in Adlerfarn Die Penetration von Amitrol (3-Amino-l,2,4-trizaol) in Adlerfarn (Pteridium aquilinum) bei Blattbehandiung, wird durch Vorbehandlungen beeinflusst. Mit der Ausnahme von Triton X-405 verbesserten alle geprüften Netzmittel, nämlich Tween 20, Triton GR-5, Triton X-100 und Tergetol NPX bei einer Konzentration von etwa 0,1% (Gew./Vol) die Penetration um mehr als 17%. Ammoniumthiocyanant und Ammoniumnitrat erhöhten die Penetration, wahrend Ammoniumsulfat keine Wirkung hatte. Die Anwendung von Phosphorsäure alleine, oder kombiniert mit Ammoniumnitrat, verminderte die Penetration. Alle verwendeten Substanzen die zur Steigerung der Feuchtigkeit dienen (humectants) waren entweder schädlich oder entsprachen in ihrer Wirkung der Wasserkontrolle. Sucrose verbesserte unbedeutend die Penetration.     

Uptake of chlorfenvinphos and phorate from soil by carrots as influenced by mode of application and cultivar

Granular formulations of chlorfenvinphos and phorate were applied to sandyloam soil at 2 kg a.i./ha either broadcast and incorporated to 2.5 cm, broadcast and incorporated at 10 cm or by the bow-wave method along the carrot rows. Depth of incorporation did not influence the rates of residue decline in the soil. Bow-wave applications produced the highest residues in root and foliage and also reduced the rate of oxidation of phorate. 30 weeks after sowing the carrots, all treatments gave the highest residue concentrations in the uppermost 6 cm of carrot root. The peel of carrots grown in the soil treated to a depth of 10 cm contained 88 % and 23 % of the total chlorfenvinphos and phorate residues respectively. Significant differences were found in the residue concentrations in five carrot cultivars treated with chlorfenvinphos and phorate by the bow-wave method at 1.5 kg a.i./ha. The concentrations were inversely correlated with root size so that amounts of insecticide (μg/carrot) were similar in all cultivars. Prolonged growth of cv. Norfolk Giant slightly extended the period of uptake of chlorfenvinphos, but the uptake of phorate was ultimately less than its rate of dissipation. Neither the method of application nor the selection of carrot cultivar extended the period of uptake very greatly but differences which were obtained in residue concentrations in the carrot may become significant in the event of regulatory control of residue levels.     

Surfactants and the uptake and movement of paraquat in plants

Surfactants are still considered to be agents which either increase spray coverage of leaves with herbicidal solutions and/or increase herbicide penetration into the leaves. Experiments where the method of application largely eliminates leaf wetting as a factor in paraquat uptake show that this is an over-simplification. Its efficiency in the plant is influenced by penetration and most of all by the degree of movement down the plant into untreated leaves. Results on the uptake, movement and biological activity of paraquat are reported using cocksfoot and wheat. A relation is found between paraquat movement and the hydrophilic nature of the surfactant. It moves most when the number of ethylene oxide residues is less than six and it is minimal when the number is 10 to 15. Leaf penetration, however, is at a maximum when movement under the influence of surfactant is least. Partition studies in which surfactants are distributed between leaf wax and water are described. There is a direct correlation between the degree of partition of the surfactant into the wax and the degree of movement of paraquat in cocksfoot and wheat. Surfactants are essential components of a paraquat formulation to wet the leaf surface and increase penetration but, when the surfactant also penetrates into the leaf, it reduces the mobility of paraquat and hence its efficiency.     

The uptake of surfactants into wheat

The time course of uptake has been determined for seven poly(oxyethylene) surfactants, and one anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulphate), into the leaves of wheat plants grown in a phytotron. Uptake was relatively rapid during an initial period of 24 h for six of the eight surfactants; after this period, the uptake rate was lower, and total uptake after 48 h was in the range 80-91% for those six surfactants. The other two compounds, sodium dodecyl sulphate and cetostearyl alcohol-22EO condensate (hexadecan-1-ol/octadecan-1-ol ethylene oxide condensate; average number of ethylene oxide units 22) were barely taken up at all. The observed time course for uptake was consistent with a complex process based on more than one rate-determining process. The physical properties of the surfactants are discussed in relation to their observed uptake behaviour. The surfactant deposit areas, measured by microscopy, were concluded to be not particularly relevant in interpreting the uptake results. Uptake was not related to surfactant chain length, but the physical form of the hydrated surfactant on a leaf surface appeared to influence uptake behaviour.     

Effects of blast on components of wheat physiology and grain yield as influenced by fungicide treatment and host resistance

Two field experiments (Exp. 1 and Exp. 2) were carried out to assess the physiological performance and grain yield of wheat cultivars BR‐18 (moderately resistant) and Guamirim (susceptible) inoculated with Pyricularia oryzae in plots treated or untreated with Ópera (fungicide 13.3% epoxiconazole + 5% pyraclostrobin). Results from regression analyses indicated that spike and leaf blast severity at 10–14 days after inoculation (dai) were associated with greater yield losses (highest negative slope) than severity at 18–22 dai. Relative to untreated Guamirim, there were 0.3% and 16% increases in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively, for untreated BR‐18 (resistance alone). For fungicide treatment alone, the mean yield of Guamirim increased by 20% and 61% in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively, relative to the untreated fungicide control, whereas for the fungicide treated BR‐18, the mean yield increased by 26% and 83% in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. Fungicide application and cultivar resistance resulted in higher measures of leaf health and photosynthetic performance in both spikes and leaves than in the untreated susceptible reference treatment. The results from this study may be useful in future efforts to develop crop loss models and management guidelines for wheat blast.     

Uptake and translocation of fungicides in wheat after seed treatment,as measured by disease response to Fusarium culmorum

The toxicities of five systemic fungicides [benomyl, carbendazim, methyl 4-(2- aminophenyl)-3-thioallophanate (NF48), thiabendazole and thiophanate-methyl] and of two non-systemic fungicides (guazatine and phenylmercury acetate) against Fusarium culmorum were compared on agar plates; their performance as seed treatments was measured by inoculating the shoot bases of wheat seedlings with F. culmorum in pot experiments. The two most effective compounds, benomyl and thiabendazole, and the less effective thiophanate-methyl, were evaluated in further seed treatment experiments in which leaf sheaths and roots of slightly older plants were infected. The three fungicides protected the first leaf sheath for more than 5 weeks, but thiophanate-methyl was least effective. Against root disease, they were effective when infection was mild, but only thiabendazole significantly controlled severe infection. Bioautography confirmed that fungicide levels in shoots were greater after benomyl and thiabendazole, than after carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl treatments, and that concentrations of fungicide after benomyl, carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl treatments generally declined between 5-13 weeks after treatment. Thiabendazole produced a second fungitoxic component detectable in plants after 34 days.     

Uptake of triadimenol through wheat caryopsis after application by seed treatment

The uptake of triadimenol was investigated by offering radio-labelled chemical exclusively through the caryopsis in a special experimental design with single seed grains in plexiglass holders. In totally-treated caryopses about 5% and, in partially-treated caryopses (embryo untreated), 4.5% of the applied radioactivity reached the winter wheat shoots after 21 days up to the third leaf stage. Uptake of active ingredient through the pathway pericarp-testa-endosperm-scutellum-seedling up to the third leaf stage D(13) was therefore confirmed. Furthermore, [¹⁴C] triadimenol was also translocated through the caryopses into the roots and was released to the nutrient solution.     

Spray drift as influenced by meteorological and technical factors

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate spray drift from a conventional field sprayer as influenced by meteorological and technical factors, and to provide spray operators with data on which to base sound judgements when applying pesticides. The study was conducted in grazing fields and cereal crops. RESULTS: Interpreting the results from 15 field trials under varying meteorological conditions using different boom heights and driving speeds indicates that, during normal spraying conditions, the most decisive factors influencing the total spray drift (TSD) will be boom height and wind speed, followed by air temperature, driving speed and vapour pressure deficit. One important finding was that TSD (within the encompassed range of meteorological conditions and a boom height of 0.4 m) could be expressed as a simple function of the fraction of droplets ≤ 100 µm. In cereal crops: TSD = 0.36 + 0.11× [fr. (d ≤ 100 µm)] and in grazing fields, TSD = 1.02 + 0.10× [fr. (d ≤ 100 µm)]. In most cases a fraction of the airborne drift passed over the 6 m sampling mast located 5 m downwind of the spray swath. CONCLUSIONS: Under specified conditions, the present results indicate a simple relation between the total spray drift and volume fractions of droplets ≤ 100 µm. Given the nozzle type, it was concluded that the most decisive factors determining TSD are wind speed and boom height. Evaluating the relative importance of the meteorological and technical factors contributes to increasing knowledge in this field of research. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Penetration of bean leaves by asulam as influenced by adjuvants and humidity

Penetration of bean (Vicia faba var. Maris Bead) foliage by asulam was found to be affected differently by different surfactants. Some anionic and non-ionic surfactants brought about a significant increase compared with the aqueous control, others were similar to the aqueous control and one caused a significant reduction. High humidity increased asulam uptake and the effect was still further enhanced in the presence of Tween 20. High humidity was also found to influence asulam penetration in the presence of glycerol. With urea, uptake was greater under high humidity conditions and in the presence of Tween 20. A similar enhancement of penetration was found with potassium ethyl xanthate at lower concentrations (0–0.20%) in the presence of Tween 20. On the other hand, reduced uptake resulted at higher concentrations (0.40–1.00%). Tributyl phosphate brought about an increase in penetration at concentrations greater than 0.75%. However, both potassium ethyl xanthate and tributyl phosphate were shown to damage the leaf surface.     

Penetration of bean leaves by aminotriazole as influenced by adjuvants and humidity

Penetration of bean leaves (Phaseolus vulgaris var. Canadian Wonder) by aminotriazole (3-amino-1,2,4-triazole) was greatly enhanced under high humidity conditions (ca 10% in 17 h at the low humidity level (LHL) compared with ca 80% in 2 h at the high humidity level (HHL)). The addition of polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan monolaurate (polysorbate 20) to the spray fluid increased penetration on all occasions at the LHL. The increase obtained was found to be dependent on the concentration of polysorbate 20. The inclusion of polysorbate 20 at the HHL resulted in an increase in aminotriazole penetration at low polysorbate 20 concentrations 0.2–12.8 g/litre and a non-significant decrease over the aqueous control at a concentration of 40 g/litre. With additions of glycerol to the spray fluid, aminotriazole penetration was increased on all occasions at the LHL while at the HHL no concentration of glycerol was found to enhance penetration. The addition of polysorbate 20 (< 0.1 to 40 g/litre) to a spray solution containing glycerol (0.3 ml/litre) enhanced penetration at the HHL compared with the aqueous and glycerol controls. A polysorbate 20 plus glycerol combination (6.4 g+0.6 ml/litre) gave the same order of penetration (98.4 and 94.0%) at the HHL and LHL respectively. In both cases penetration exceeded that obtained with the corresponding polysorbate 20 and glycerol controls. Some of the practical implications of these findings are discussed.     

Uptake of some volatile alkyl methylphosphonofluoridates from the vapour phase by wheat plants

The uptake of cyclohexyl, isopropyl and 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl methylphosphonofluoridates from the vapour phase by growing wheat plants was studied. The compounds were absorbed through the leaves of the plants and were degraded in a manner similar to that following their uptake through the roots from hydroponic culture solution. The levels of the methylphosphonic acid derivatives in the plant extracts were influenced by the vapour concentration of the methylphosphonofluoridate, the period of exposure to the vapour and the state of illumination of the plants, but were not markedly influenced by the chemical nature of the compounds. Likely mechanisms for the uptake are discussed and it is concluded that the main route of absorption involves the stomata. The studies suggest that growing plants can absorb and possibly have a “sink effect” for atmospheric organophosphorus contamination.     

Uptake and fate of triticonazole applied as seed treatment to spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Following seed treatment of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with ¹⁴C-labelled triticonazole at a dose of 1·8 g kg^-1 seed, the uptake of radioactivity by shoots and roots was investigated from the two- to three-leaf stage up to the beginning of the booting phase, 80 days after sowing. Triticonazole equivalents taken up by wheat plants reached 5·7% and 14·6% of the applied dose in the shoots and the roots, respectively. Between the two- to three-leaf stage and the beginning of the booting phase, the concentration of triticonazole equivalents in the shoots decreased from 2·5 to 0·15 μg g^-1 fresh weight. This was attributed to uptake of triticonazole by roots not keeping pace with shoot growth and increased retention in the roots of triticonazole taken up. The main factor limiting the uptake of triticonazole by the roots may be the rapid growth of the uptake-active apical root parts out of the dressing zone which had formed in the soil. Distribution of triticonazole equivalents taken up by the main shoot showed a decreasing concentration gradient from the oldest to the youngest leaf. An increase in the seed treatment dose was investigated as a way to increase the concentration of triticonazole in the shoots, but its influence remained limited. © 1998 SCI     

Epiphytotics of chickpea Ascochyta blight in Turkey as influenced by climatic factors

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Chickpea Ascochyta blight caused by Didymella rabiei is one of the most important fungal diseases affecting yield and seed quality negatively in Turkey....     

Uptake, translocation and metabolism of the herbicide florasulam in wheat and broadleaf weeds

Florasulam is a triazolopyrimidine sulfonanilide post-emergence broadleaf herbicide for use in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The selectivity of florasulam to wheat has been determined to be related primarily to a differential rate of metabolism between wheat with a half-life of 2.4 h and broadleaf weeds with half-lives ranging from 19 to >48 h. To a lesser extent, selectivity, at least for the broadleaf weed cleavers (Galium aparine L.), involves uptake differences. Rate of metabolism data were generated using greenhouse-grown plants injected with radiolabelled florasulam and subsequent extraction and processing by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Structures of metabolites were determined by isolation for nuclear magnetic resonance and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Wheat plants metabolised florasulam by hydroxylation of the aniline ring para to the nitrogen, followed by conjugation to glucose. Metabolism by broadleaf weeds was so slow that isolation of metabolite was not possible, but comparison of HPLC data suggested hydroxylation as the major pathway.     

Uptake patterns of soil-applied 45Ca and 32P in some legume species as influenced by differential trifluralin placement

The effect of localized placement of trifluralin on uptake patterns of soil-applied ⁴⁵Ca in vetch (Vicia sativa L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.) and soybean (Glycine max) and ³²P in vetch and pea was investigated in two soil zones in the roots and in the shoot zone before and after plant emergence. When trifluralin was in the upper root zone severe inhibition of lateral roots occurred as well as a marked decrease in uptake of ⁴⁵Ca and ³²P from this zone. Root growth in the lower zone was unaffected, but uptake of ⁴⁵Ca and ³²P was slightly reduced. Compensatory adventitious root growth as well as a marked increase in uptake of ⁴⁵Ca and ³²P occurred in the shoot zone. Neither root growth nor uptake of ⁴⁵Ca or ³²P in the upper root zone were affected by the presence of trifluralin in the lower root region. When trifluralin was placed in the shoot zone after plant emergence, adven-titious roots on the shoots were inhibited and uptake of ⁴⁵Ca and ³²P was reduced.     

Competition between safflower and weeds as influenced by crop genotype and sowing time

The effects of crop genotype and sowing time on competition between safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and weeds were investigated in a 2-year field study. Each year, safflower was grown as a pure stand and in mixture with a natural weed infestation, mostly represented by Polygonum aviculare L., Fallopia convolvulus (L.) A. Löve and Chenopodium album L., in an additive design including weed stands grown without the crop. Grain yield reduction ranged from about 50% to 80% depending on crop genotype, and was higher under spring sowing (mid-March) than under winter sowing (mid-February). In general, those genotypes incurring the least yield reduction gave the greatest suppression of weed biomass. More competitive genotypes also tended to reduce the proportion of C. album in the weed biomass at harvest, particularly in 1994 (the wetter growing season). The competitive ability of the crop was mainly correlated with its biomass at early growth stages, but was not related to its grain-yielding ability in the absence of weeds. Results showed that more competitive crops may be obtained by sowing the most competitive genotypes early. Selecting for higher competitive ability in safflower does not seem to imply a reduction in grain-yielding ability.     

Direct measurement of paraquat in leaf protoplasts indicates vacuolar paraquat sequestration as a resistance mechanism in Lolium rigidum

Sequestration of paraquat away from its target site in the chloroplast has been proposed as a mechanism of paraquat resistance. However, no consensus has been reached as to where paraquat is sequestered. This study quantifies paraquat in leaf protoplasts of paraquat resistant (R) and susceptible (S) Lolium rigidum. Intact protoplasts were prepared from plants treated with commercial dose of paraquat for 2 h. Paraquat absorbed by the leaf protoplasts was determined by light absorption of reduced paraquat following concentration and purification using a cation-exchange resin. Leaf protoplasts from treated paraquat resistant plants contained 2- to 3-fold more paraquat than leaf protoplasts isolated from susceptible plants. Since paraquat is not metabolised in L. rigidum and paraquat readily enters chloroplasts of both R and S plants, this greater amount of paraquat in leaf protoplasts of R plant must be kept away from the target site (chloroplast). This result indicates that paraquat resistance in L. rigidum is associated with a cytoplasmic mechanism, most likely a greater rate of vacuolar sequestration.     

Fungal invasion and mycotoxin contamination of stored sorghum grain as influenced by threshing methods

Sanitation from harvest to storage is a key factor in eliminating sources of infection and reducing levels of mycotoxigenic fungal invasion, and thereby mycotoxin contamination. This study was conducted at Haramaya University, Eastern Ethiopia to investigate the effects of threshing methods on fungal invasion and mycotoxin contamination of sorghum grain. The methods included threshing on bare ground, cow-dung-painted ground, concrete asphalt and canvas. The threshed grain was kept separately in bags in three replications in a completely randomized design and stored for five months. The results revealed that all the sorghum grain samples taken from different threshing methods were contaminated with both Aspergillus and Fusarium species. There were variations in fungal invasion between samples taken immediately after threshing and stored samples. The level of Aspergillus spp. invasion was much higher in the latter in sorghum grain threshed on bare ground. The concentration of aflatoxin B₁ was gradually increased, whereas the total fumonisin concentration was decreased with the storage duration both in 2013 and 2014. On stored sorghum grain, the highest (1.97 µg kg^?1) and the lowest (0.70 µg kg^?1) mean aflatoxin B₁ concentrations were recorded from sorghum grains threshed on bare ground and on canvas, respectively. Sorghum grain obtained from canvas threshing method had significantly lower mean total fumonisin content (142.5, 54.9 µg kg^?1) than grain from the other methods at threshing. The current work clearly demonstrated the effect that threshing might have on fungal invasion and mycotoxin contamination of sorghum grains. .