THE MOVEMENT OF PARAQUAT IN PLANTS

Summary. A qualitative study of the movement of the herbicide paraquat from droplets applied to leaves of tomato plants, using ¹⁴C-methyl-labelled and ¹⁴C-ring-labelled paraquat dichloride and di(methylsulphate), has shown that it moves in the xylem with the transpiration stream. The chemical is as well transported from young leaves as from mature ones, and will move through a steam-ringed petiole. The enhancement of the amount of paraquat transported from the treated leaves which occurs when treated plants are kept in darkness for a period following treatment and then exposed to light, is probably due to the greater movement into the xylem through undamaged tissue which can occur in the dark. Once the chemical has been absorbed into treated leaves, light-induced damage is required for significant movement through the rest of the plant to take place, but the damage then inhibits further entry of paraquat into the xylem. The movement of paraquat in broad bean and maize is essentially similar, though the enhancement of movement by a period of darkness after application is much less marked.
La migration du paraquat dans les plantes     

Histological investigations on the pathogenesis of Xanthomonas campestris pv. graminis to Lolium multiflorum1

Plants of Lolium multiflorum cv. Remy were infected by Xanthomonas campestris pv. graminis in the greenhouse by clipping their leaves with scissors the blades of which had been dipped in a bacterial suspension. Inoculation of the cut leaves resulted in intense bacterial proliferation in the protoxylem lacunae. X. c. graminis caused cell wall dissolution early in the infection process. Bacteria were observed to exist within the protoxylem lacunae in a matrix of amorphous substance, presumably partly dissolved cell wall material and extracellular polysaccharide. They spread out into the adjacent xylem parenchyma cells after having dissolved the parenchyma cell walls, and into the xylem vessels. Long-distance transport of X.c. graminis occurred in the xylem. The bacteria invaded neighbouring vascular bundles by penetrating through intercellular spaces developed from dissolved primary cell walls between leaf mesophyll cells. Six weeks after inoculation most bacteria could be found in the xylem of the outermost leaf sheath.     

Colonization of Host Plants by the Fire Blight Pathogen Erwinia amylovora Marked with Genes for Bioluminescence and Fluorescence

ABSTRACT To follow the movement of Erwinia amylovora in plant tissue without dissection, this bacterium was marked with either the lux operon from Vibrio fischeri or the gfp gene from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria, both carried on multicopy plasmids and expressed under the control of the lac promoter from Escherichia coli. Movement of the pathogen was visualized in leaves, stems, and roots of apple seedlings, and migration of E. amylovora was traced from inoculation sites in the stem to as far as the roots. Green fluorescent E. amylovora cells were observed in the xylem and later appeared to break out of the vessels into the intercellular spaces of the adjacent parenchyma. Inoculation in the intercostal region of leaves caused a zone of slow necrosis that finally resulted in bacterial invasion of the xylem vessels. Labeled bacteria could also be seen in association with the anchor sites of leaf hairs. Distortion of the epidermis adjacent to leaf hairs created openings that were observed by scanning electron microscopy. As the intercostal region, the bases of leaf hairs provided E. amylovora access to intact xylem vessels, which allowed further distribution of the pathogen in the host plant.     

Presence of Brome mosaic virus in Barley Guttation Fluid and Its Association with Localized Cell Death Response

ABSTRACT Water exits from inside the leaf through transpiration or guttation. Under conditions to promote guttation, surface fluid (guttation fluid) from Brome mosaic virus (BMV)-infected barley, wheat, and maize plants was analyzed for the presence of the virus by biological and serological assays. We also investigated the route by which BMV exited infected cells to the intercellular space of the barley leaf. BMV was detected in guttation fluid from systemically infected barley leaves when the initial viral symptoms were observed on these leaves. The virus was also detected in guttation fluid from systemically infected wheat leaves, but not in maize leaves showing either systemic necrosis or chlorotic streaks. Interestingly, in BMV-infected barley leaves, but not in maize leaves showing chlorotic streaks, cell death occurred within and adjacent to veins. Staining of xylem and phloem networks in infected barley leaves with fluorescent dyes showed that xylem, and to a lesser extent phloem, were severely damaged and thus became leaky for dye transport. No such damage was observed in BMV-infected maize leaves showing chlorotic streaks. We propose that in infected barley leaves, BMV exits from damaged vein cells (especially the xylem elements), accumulates in intercellular spaces, and then reaches the surface of the leaves through stomata during guttation or transpiration. In nature, BMV may be carried to adjacent plants and cause infection by movement of vertebrate and invertebrate vectors among infected plants exuding guttation fluid.     

AN AUTORADIOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE MOVEMENT OF 14C-LABELLED ASSIMILATES IN THE DEVELOPING WHEAT PLANT

Summary. ¹⁴CO₂ together with autoradiographic techniques was used to stuy the movement of labelled carbon within wheat plants at different stages in their development. Movement of ¹⁴C about the plain was found to be extensive in the early stages, gradually bccoming more localized until at a stage after ear emergence there was little transference of labelled carbon between tillers within a 24-hour period.
In the early stages of development ¹⁴C from leaves on the main shoot was transported throughout the plant but accumulated in greatest amounts in the meristematic regions. Assimilates produced by the leaves of newly formed tillers were distributed mainly to the meristematic regions of those tillers although labelled carbon was moved in into the rest of the plant. In the later stages of development of each tiller the labelled assimilate was restricted to the tiller itself and to any very young tillers associated with it. After car emergence the pattern of distribution of the labelled carbon from the youngest and second youngest leaves was found to differ. Movement was predominantly towards the ear from the flag leaf and towards the root system from the leaf below the flag.
It was noticed that mature leaves accumulated some labelled material and the possibility that this occurred via the transpiration stream following migration from phloem to xylem, as is the case with some of the case with some of the translocated herbicides, was investigated, but no indication of xylem transference was obtained.
The possible application of these studies to investigations into the relationship between the movement natural assimilates and of translocated herbicides is discussed.     

Bidirectional colonization and biofilm formation by Erwinia psidii in eucalypt plants

Dieback and wilt caused by Erwinia psidii is an emerging disease that has been causing considerable damage in eucalypt plantations. Because it is a recently emerged disease, several aspects of the bacterial interaction with its host still remain to be elucidated. In this work, we studied the E. psidii colonization and biofilm formation in eucalypt tissues by specific detection using PCR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that the bacterium is able to translocate in stem tissue mainly acropetally, although movement in the basipetal direction was also observed to a lesser extent, always through the xylem. No colonization of phloem tissues was observed. In addition to colonizing the xylem, E. psidii colonized the parenchymatous tissue. The bacterium formed cell aggregates enveloped by fibrillar material that evolved into complex, well-structured biofilms in stem and leaf tissues. In contrast, no biofilm formation was observed on abiotic surfaces. These observations suggest that biofilm formation plays an important role in the elicitation of dieback and wilt symptoms caused by E. psidii on eucalypt plants. This study not only shows ultrastructural aspects of the E. psidii communities but also tissue damage in eucalypt plants that was associated with the presence of bacterial aggregates and formation of tyloses.     

Interactions between Globodera pallida juveniles, Verticillium dahliae and three potato cultivars, with descriptions of associated histopathologies

Experiments carried out in agar culture showed that the potato cultivar Pentland Javelin is relatively resistant to infection by Verticillium dahliae because it has a multilayered cortex of thick-walled cells, each producing lignituber appositions to invading hyphae. Its thick-walled xylem vessels are difficult to penetrate, its large vessel lumens difficult to obstruct, and its ability to produce tyloses limits the spread of the fungus, By comparison. Maris Anchor roots have fewer cortical layers and very small xylem vessels which are more easily blocked by hyphae. Maris Peer is intermediate in both the number of cortical cell layers and the size of xylem vessels. Globodera pallida juveniles assist V. dahliae to evade the natural defences of the root by opening an invasion channel for the fungus. In Maris Anchor and Maris Peer, but not in Pentland Javelin, the nematode provokes a widespread hypersensitive response; the resulting cell wall lignification impedes the growth of those hyphae which invade several days after the nematode. Hyphae grow well in syncytia and this enhances the probability of their penetrating xylem vessels. Although V. dahliae is generally held to induce symptoms through xylem blockage, the phloem colonization which was noted may affect the growth of both plant and nematode through its effect on assimilate movement towards root lips and into syncytia.     

‘Universal’ spray droplet adhesion model – accounting for hairy leaves

The adhesion of a spray droplet upon initial contact with a leaf surface is extremely important to spray efficacy and is dependent on dynamic interactions between droplets (formulation, size, velocity) and leaf (micro‐topography, surface chemistry, veininess, hairiness and orientation). A ‘universal’ spray droplet adhesion model has previously been developed, using 50% aqueous acetone contact angles as a measure of leaf surface properties; this model satisfactorily predicts initial adhesion over a range of formulation surface tensions, droplet sizes and velocities. However, it failed to fit data from hairier leaves. This study investigates initial spray droplet adhesion on hairy leaves. Two categories of hairy leaves were identified by how the droplets penetrate the leaf hairs, Wenzel (hairy) and Cassie–Baxter (super hairy). For the Wenzel‐type, a simple constant accounted for the increased droplet shatter caused by the hairs. For the Cassie–Baxter‐type, a cushioning factor was introduced to account for the absorption of kinetic energy at impact by the hair mat. The cushioning factor was estimated by measuring the relative height of the hair mat. By including these two parameters, the new model successfully predicted the mean adhesion of non‐hairy, hairy and super‐hairy plants (R² = 0.96). This model and the underlying principles determining hairy leaf adhesion developed in this article will help develop spray formulations effective at targeting hairy‐leaved weed and crop species.     

Uptake and movement of paraquat in cocksfoot and wheat as influenced by surfactants

Surfactants are used to increase the efficiency of herbicide formulations mainly because they wet out leaf surfaces, thereby stabilising and increasing the contact area of droplets on the surface. Herbicide penetration through the cuticle may also be facilitated. The work described eliminates effects on wetting and contact area in order to study the effect of surfactants on the penetration and movement of paraquat in cocksfoot. Surfactants were various types of alcohols and amine oxides condensed with 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide used at 0.1 to 0.5%. An adult leaf of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) was immersed briefly to constant area in paraquat solutions containing surfactant and uptake and movement of paraquat is recorded. Uptake was little affected by differences in surfactant structure except where surface activity was low and solutions failed to wet out the leaf surface. Percentage movement with 0.5% surfactant was often less than that with 0.1% and a high ethylene oxide content also reduced percentage movement. Paraquat activity was influenced by both the degree of uptake and movement, but movement was the greater influence. Amine oxide surfactants reduced movement less than those based on alcohols. The action of surfactants is discussed in terms of a hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance in the surfactant molecule.     

Fire blight. Why do views on host invasion by Erwinia amylovora differ?

The fire blight pathogen, Erwinia amylovora, commonly infects flowers and shoots of certain rosaceous hosts and systemic (whole‐tree) invasion sometimes follows. The bacterium may be found in the parenchyma of bark tissue and/or in mature xylem vessels of stem tissue. Views differ on initial sites of multiplication and the optimal route for systemic migration. This article presents the evidence on which the different views are based. There are limited observations on orchard pear and apple trees; in most experimental studies, young apple shoots on potted plants were used. Tissue maturity at the site of shoot inoculation is of prime importance. If xylem vessels are damaged, inoculum may be sucked into the vessels and the bacteria will multiply there. In younger tissue, there is less suction pressure. The critical stem entry site for the invasion of cortical parenchyma seems to be near or above the most recently unfolded leaf. No one has suggested that migration in bark tissue cannot be a major route. If the xylem route is followed, the pathogen needs a means of escape into bark tissue, where typical symptoms develop; means of escape from mature xylem vessels have not been demonstrated and remain a matter for speculation. Published evidence does not seem to support the idea that fire blight is a vascular wilt disease, nor that the extracellular polysaccharide produced by E. amylovora is a toxin and responsible for the wilting symptom seen in the early stages of the disease.     

The chemical environment of leaf surfaces with special reference to spore germination of pathogenic fungi

The release of diffusible substances from plant leaves, fungal spores or from pollen into water droplets on the surface of leaves is discussed in relation to (1) direct and indirect effects on spores of pathogens and (2) the effect on the growth of saprophytic micro-organisms. Evidence suggests that competition for nutrients in droplets on leaves may limit germination of spores of some pathogens. Modification of the chemical environment of leaf surfaces by saprophytic micro-organisms is discussed in relation to lytic enzyme and antibiotic production, cuticle degradation, production of growth substances and fixation of nitrogen. Examples are given of the effect on pathogenic fungi of diffusible toxins from leaves and inhibitors associated with surface wax. Treatments of leaves that remove or reduce surface wax can result in a stimulation of spore germination of some pathogenic fungi. The possible occurrence of phytoalexins on leaf surfaces prior to entry of pathogens into leaves is discussed in relation to differences in host-pathogen interaction.     

The influence of plant age on the movement of 2,4-D and assimilates in wheat

A quantitative study of the movement of 2,4-D and assimilates was made using radiocarbon-labelled materials. At the two-three leaf stage of wheat (cv Koga II) 2,4-D moved more slowly than assimilates, but the patterns of movement were very similar. At the five-six leaf stage of the cereal there were differences between 2,4-D and assimilates in the patterns of distribution from leaf 1 and from a leaf on a tiller. In both cases relatively less 2,4-D moved into roots than would have been predicted from knowledge of assimilate movement. Total amounts of 2,4-D reaching the roots did not differ significantly between growth stages but due to root growth, the concentration of radio-activity in the roots fell.     

The incorporation of pathogen spores into rain-splash droplets: a modelling approach

Simple, theoretical, physical principles and existing experimental data were used to derive an analytical model to describe the incorporation of plant pathogen spores into splash droplets. Data were obtained from experiments on splash dispersal of spores of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides (cereal eyespot), Pyrenopeziza brassicae (oilseed rape light leaf spot) and Septoria nodorum (wheat glume blotch). In these experiments, incident drops of diameter 4–5 mm were allowed to fall onto spore suspensions 0.5 mm deep with 1.2 × 10⁵ to 6.5 × 10⁵ spores/mL. The analytical model was constructed as the product of three functions of droplet diameter which described, respectively, the frequency distribution of droplet diameters, the proportion of droplets carrying spores and the mean number of spores in spore-carrying droplets in each diameter category. The frequency distribution of droplet sizes was described by a log-normal distribution, the proportion of droplets carrying spores was described by an exponential function and the adimensional spore concentration in spore-carrying droplets was described by a power law. The cumulative proportions of spores in droplets in diameter categories of increasing diameter were calculated to compare observed and fitted data.     

Translocation and translaminar bioavailability of two neonicotinoid insecticides after foliar application to cabbage and cotton

A laboratory study was undertaken to investigate the leaf systemic properties and the translaminar aphicidal activity of two commercialised neonicotinoid (chloronicotinyl) insecticides. For that purpose [14C]imidacloprid was subjected to uptake and translocation studies in cabbage and cotton after foliar application. Foliar penetration and short-term translocation patterns of imidacloprid were similar in both plant species. Nevertheless imidacloprid penetrated twice as much into cabbage leaves as it did into cotton leaves. It showed a comparable translaminar behaviour and was entirely translocated acropetally, indicating its well-known xylem mobility. The translaminar and acropetal movement of imidacloprid and acetamiprid were quantified by simple laboratory bioassays using the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), and the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Glover), as typical homopteran pests for cabbage and cotton, respectively. A single dose (7.5 micrograms AI per leaf) applied to the upper leaf surface of cabbage and cotton was tested against aphids feeding on the lower leaf surface both close to and distant from the site of application 1, 5 and 12 days after treatment. The translaminar residual activity of imidacloprid on cabbage leaves was superior to that of acetamiprid, whereas its translaminar efficacy against A gossypii on cotton was inferior to that of acetamiprid. However, oral ingestion bioassays using an artificial double membrane feeding system revealed no significant differences in intrinsic activity between the two neonicotinoids tested.     

灵武长枣叶片阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白分布特征

以膨大前期、快速膨大期、着色期和完熟期灵武长枣叶为试验材料，通过免疫荧光定位的方法，研究不同发育时期灵武长枣叶阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白(AGPs)的分布特征。结果表明：不同时期叶表皮细胞外切向壁均较厚，抗体所识别的抗原荧光AGPs分布较多，形成了较厚的角质层；垂直于叶片方向的细胞壁较薄，抗体所识别的抗原荧光AGPs分布较少，下表皮气孔保卫细胞分布着少量AGPs。叶肉全部由发达的栅栏组织细胞组成，不同发育时期叶肉细胞壁和细胞内部均密集分布着抗体所识别的抗原荧光AGPs,是叶AGPs分布的主要部位。主脉维管束木质部、形成层和韧皮部细胞壁和细胞内部均分布着大量抗体所识别的抗原荧光AGPs,但快速膨大期主脉AGPs相比其他时期略有减少；而位于叶肉中的侧脉和细脉维管束木质部和韧皮部细胞壁和细胞内部始终分布着大量抗体所识别的抗原荧光AGPs;不同时期主脉、侧脉和细脉维管束鞘中均没有抗体所识别的抗原荧光AGPs分布，可能与维管束鞘细胞中分泌物的形成有关。主脉和侧脉处表皮下的机械组织和薄壁细胞细胞壁分布着较多抗体所识别的抗原荧光AGPs;薄壁组织中的分泌道内部没有AGPs荧光分布。以上结果表明不同时期叶表皮细...     

A simple diffusion model of the effect of droplet size and spread area on foliar uptake of hydrophilic compounds

The uptake of a hydrophilic active ingredient through the leaves of plants is mathematically modelled as a simple diffusion process. A three layer model is considered consisting of the droplet, the cuticle and the subcuticle. Translocation of the active ingredient from the subcuticle is allowed for as is depletion of the active ingredient from the droplet. Both the effect of the size of the droplets on the leaf surface and surfactant enhanced spreading of the droplet is examined. It is found that decreasing the size of the droplet leads to an increase in the percentage uptake of the active ingredient. Increasing the spread area of the droplet is found to increase the percentage uptake with the effect greatest in larger droplets.     

Vascular-Streak Dieback: A New Encounter Disease of Cacao in Papua New Guinea and Southeast Asia Caused by the Obligate Basidiomycete Oncobasidium theobromae

ABSTRACT The basidiomycete Oncobasidium theobromae was identified as the cause of a devastating disease of cacao named vascular-streak dieback (VSD) in Papua New Guinea in the 1960s. VSD now causes losses among cacao seedlings and kills branches in mature cacao trees throughout Southeast Asia and parts of Melanesia. The characteristic symptoms include a green-spotted chlorosis and fall of leaves beginning on the second or third flush behind the stem apex, raised lenticels, and darkening of vascular traces at the leaf scars and infected xylem. Eventually complete defoliation occurs and, if the fungus spreads to the trunk, the tree will die. O. theobromae is a highly specialized, near-obligate parasite of cocoa. It is a windborne, leaf-penetrating, vascular pathogen, and may have evolved as an endophyte on an as yet unidentified indigenous host. The rate of disease spread on cocoa is limited because basidiocarps develop only on fresh leaf scars during wet weather, and basidiospores remain viable for a few hours on the night they are shed. Consequently, very few new infections occur beyond 80-m from diseased trees. Transmission of the disease through seed or infected cuttings has not been demonstrated. Strict quarantine measures applied to the movement of intact plants are crucial in reducing spread of the disease. Integrated management, including the planting of less susceptible genotypes, nursery construction and management, canopy pruning and shade management, provides effective control.     

压力探针技术原理及其在植物水分关系研究中的应用

现代压力探针主要分为高等植物细胞压力探针、根压力探针、木质部压力探针和取样压力探针4个变种,并形成了相关的理论体系,广泛应用于植物生理学及其相关领域的研究中。现代压力探针技术不仅可用于高等植物细胞和组织水平水分关系、水和溶质的相互作用关系的研究,还可进行根木质部负压的测定及高等植物活体单细胞内含物的取样研究等。未来更可借助取样压力探针与微量分析技术的结合,将高等植物单细胞内的水分关系和代谢过程定量联系起来;或可试图拓宽木质部压力探针测定的压力范围,进一步研究和验证内聚力-张力学说的理论和机制。     

木质部次生细胞壁增厚参与疣粒野生稻对黄单胞杆菌水稻变种的抗性

 黄单胞杆菌水稻变种（Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae,Xoo）引起的水稻白叶枯病是一个世界性的严重病害。疣粒野生稻（Oryzae meyeriana）对Xoo具有高度抗性,但其抗性机制仍不清楚。本文以抗病的疣粒野生稻和感病的水稻品种大粒香为材料,研究了Xoo侵染对叶片病斑、叶绿体超微结构、光合系统活性和木质部超微结构的影响。结果表明,多种Xoo生理小种导致的疣粒野生稻叶片病斑长度都明显短于大粒香叶片的病斑长度。Xoo病菌侵染显著破坏了大粒香的叶绿体结构,明显抑制了其光合活性,而疣粒野生稻中的变化要轻得多。通过电镜切片,发现疣粒野生稻叶片导管内存在大量的Xoo病菌,这表明Xoo能够侵染疣粒野生稻且能够在叶片内增殖。病菌的侵染诱导了疣粒野生稻木质部次生细胞壁的增厚,抑制了病菌通过导管纹孔向邻近细胞的进一步侵染,这种反应可能参与了疣粒野生稻对Xoo的抗性。     

Systemic properties of myclobutanil in soybean plants, affecting control of Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi)

BACKGROUND: The demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicide myclobutanil can be an effective component of spray programmes designed to control the highly destructive plant pathogen Phakopsora pachyrhizi Syd. & P. Syd., causal agent of Asian soybean rust. Myclobutanil is known from previous studies in grapevines to be xylem mobile. This study investigates the mobility profile of myclobutanil in soybean as an important component of its effective field performance. RESULTS: Over a 12 day period under greenhouse conditions, a constant uptake of myclobutanil from leaflet surfaces into the leaflet tissue was observed. Once in the leaflet, myclobutanil was seen to redistribute throughout the tissue, although no movement out of leaflets occurred owing to a lack of phloem mobility. The ability of myclobutanil to redistribute over distance within the soybean plant was revealed when visualizing movement of the compound to foliage above the point of application on the plant stem. An efficacy bioassay demonstrated that the systemic properties of myclobutanil allow control of disease at a point remote from the initial site of compound application. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the high degree of xylem systemicity displayed by myclobutanil in soybean foliage is a contributory factor towards its commercial effectiveness for control of Asian soybean rust. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry