Cuticular lipids of two resistant and a susceptible strain of houseflies

A study was made of the composition of the cuticular lipids of two resistant strains of houseflies (Rutgers and Fc), both of which show a reduced rate of absorption of insecticides as a partial mechanism of resistance and a susceptible strain (CSMA). Total lipids, monoglycerides, diglycerides and sterol esters (except in the Fc strain), sterols, fatty acids and phospholipid phosphorus were higher in resistant strains than in the susceptible strain. Phosphatidyl-ethanolamine and phosphatidyl-choline were major constituents of the phospholipid fractions and were appreciably higher in the resistant strains. Cuticular wax contents did not differ among strains. Incorporation of lipid precursors, [U-¹⁴]acetate and [³²P]orthophosphate, was greater in the cuticle of one or both resistant strains, depending on the lipid component examined.     

Degradation of a sulfonamide herbicide as a function of soil sorption

The degradation of DE-498 (proposed common name flumetsulam) was studied in 21 US soils as a first step in developing a management plan for this new herbicide. Degradation half-lives were shorter in soils that adsorbed the compound less. Adsorption was lower in soils with higher pH and lower organic carbon content. Degradation half-lives were thus influenced by both pH and organic carbon: they were in the range 2–4 weeks in higher pH soils (pH 5 7.0) unless the organic carbon content was above 2.5%, at which half-lives were in the range 1–3 months. In medium pH soils (6.4 pH 6.9) half-lives were 1–2 months, while in lower pH soils (5.9 pH 6.3) they were 1–4 months. The laboratory data were supported by the response of sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) planted 1 year after application of flumetsulam to different soils. A quantitative model relating half-life to sorption K_d (r²= 0.85) was coupled with an additional equation relating sorption K_d to the proportion of neutral and anionic forms of the compound at different pH values. The study allows estimates of this herbicide's degradation in soil to be made if its pH and organic carbon content are known. Degradation d'un herbicide sulfonamide en fonction de la capacité d'absorption du sol La dégradation du flumetsulam a étéétudiée dans les sols aux Etats Unis comme premier stade dans le développement d'un plan d'utilisation de ce nouvel herbicide. Les demi-vies de dégradation étaient plus courtes dans les sols qui absorbaient moins le produit. L'absorption était plus faible dans les sols à pH élevé et à faible teneur en carbone organique. Les demi-vies étaient ainsi sous l'influence du pH et du carbone organique: elles étaient de 2 à 4 semaines pour les pH de sols élevés (pH 7) sauf si le carbone organique était au dessus de 2,5%, dans ce cas, les demi-vies etaient de 1 à 3 mois. Dans les sols à pH moyen (6,4 pH 6,9) les demi-vies étaient de 1 à 2 mois, tandis que dans les sols à pH faible (5,9 pH 6,3) elles étaient de 1 à 4 mois. Les résultats de laboratoire ont été confirmés par le comportement de tournesols plantés un an aprfès l'application de flumetsulam dans différents sols. Un modèle reliant la demi-vie au coefficient d'absorption Kd (r²= 0.85) a été couplé avec une équation additionelle reliant le coefficient d'absorption Kd à la proportion de particules neutres et anioniques de la molécule aux différents pH. L'étude permet de faire des estimations de la dégradation de cet herbicide dans le sol dès que le pH et la teneur en carbone organique sont connus. Abbau eines Sulfonamid-Herbizids als Funktion der Bodensorption Der Abbau von Flumetsulam (DE-498) wurde in 21 Böden untersucht, um eine Grundlage zur Produktentwicklung dieses neuen Herbizids zu gewinnen. Die 50%ige Verlustrate (DT₅₀) war in schwächer sorptiven Böden kürzer. Bei hohem pH-Wert und geringem Gehalt an organischer Substanz war die Adsorption schwächer. Die DT₅₀ wurde durch den pH-Wert und den Gehalt organischer Substanz wie folgt beeinflußt: Sie betrug 2 bis 4 Wochen in Böden mit pH >7,0 (wenn der C_org-Gehalt nicht über 2,5% lag; dort dann 1 bis 3 Monate), 1 bis 2 Monate bei 6,4 < pH < 6,9 und 1 bis 4 Monate bei 5,9 < pH < 6,3). Die Ergebnisse der Laboruntersuchungen wurden durch Untersuchungen an Sonnenblumen gestützt. die 1 Jahr nach Applikation von Flumetsulam auf verschiedenen Böden angebaut wurden. Ein quantitatives Modell über das Verhältnis der Verlustrate zum Sorptionskoeffizienten K_d (r²= 0,85) wurde mit einer zusätzhchen Gleichung der Beziehung des Sorptionskoeffizienten K_d zum Verhältnis der neutralen und der anionischen Verbindungen des Wirkstoffs bei verschiedenen pH-Werten verknüpft. Aufgrund der Untersuchungen kann der Abbau dieses Herbizids in Böden bekannten pH-Werts und C_org-Gehalts abgeschätzt werden.     

Analysis,sorption and residues of a homologous series of isothiocyanates on wheat

A series of isothiocyanates (R-NCS, R, 1–6 carbon atoms) was applied in the vapour phase to wheat in sealed containers. The speed of sorption, as measured by the rate of loss from the intergranular air space, was inversely proportional to molecular weight; e.g. the time for 50% sorption of hexyl isothiocyanate was over 100 times longer than for the methyl analogue. Despite extensive sorption, most of the applied chemicals was recovered from the fumigated wheat seven days after dosing, indicating that sorption did not lead to extensive degradation. Purge and trap techniques proved suitable for recovery of low-boiling, but not high-boiling chemicals.     

城市污泥熟化前后对Cd2+的吸附解吸特征

研究了城市生污泥和熟污泥对Cd的吸附解吸特性及其差异性.结果表明:生污泥和熟污泥对Cd2+的吸附量均随着平衡溶液中Cd2+离子浓度的增加而增加,但增加速率渐趋缓慢,生污泥对Cd2+的吸附量小于熟污泥,Freundlich型吸附等温线方程是描述生污泥或熟污泥对Cd2+的吸附量和Cd2+平衡浓度之间关系的最佳模型.生污泥和熟污泥的解吸率均随着Cd2+初始浓度的升高而持续增大,但增加速率整体上在下降,生污泥的解吸率略高于熟污泥.生污泥和熟污泥对Cd2+的解吸量均随着污泥中Cd2+吸附量的增加而增加,且二者呈显著正相关关系(P ＜0.001).     

Sorption–desorption of 'aged' isoxaflutole and diketonitrile degradate in soil

Isoxaflutole is a relatively new herbicide used for weed control in maize. The objective of this research was to increase the understanding of the behaviour and environmental fate of isoxaflutole and its diketonitrile (DKN) degradate in soil, including determination of the strength of sorption to soil and whether sorption is affected by ageing. In sandy loam (SL) and silty clay (SiCl) soils, ¹⁴C‐isoxaflutole was found to dissipate rapidly after application to soil; recovery ranged from ～42% to 68% at week 0, and recovery had decreased to <10% at week 12. Decreases in ¹⁴C isoxaflutole residues over time in SL and SiCl soils are consistent with hydrolysis of isoxaflutole and formation of bound DKN residues in the soil. DKN recovery from freshly treated SiCl and SL soils was 41% to 52%. After a 12‐week incubation in SL soil at pH 7.1 and 8.0, recoveries were similar, ～40%. However, at week 12 in SL soil pH 5.7, DKN recovery decreased to ～28%. DKN recovery in SiCl soil at week 12 was <10%. Increases in sorption of DKN in SL at pH 5.7 and SiCl soil over time indicate that the DKN degradate is tightly bound to the soil and sorption is affected by soil pH and soil type. Sorption of ¹⁴C‐DKN in the SiCl soil more than doubled with ageing compared with the lower K_d sorption coefficient values of the SL soils. In the SiCl soil at time 0, the K_d was 0.6; at 1 week, K_d increased to 2; and at the end of the 12‐week incubation period, K_d was 4.5. This strong binding of DKN to the soil may be due to chelate formation in the interlayer of the clay.     

Development of a predictive uptake model to rationalise selection of polyoxyethylene surfactant adjuvants for foliage-applied agrochemicals

Composition-concentration relationships between a series of C₁₃/C₁₄ polyoxyethylene primary alcohol (AE) surfactants and the foliar uptake enhancement of five model neutral organic compounds were examined in factorially designed experiments on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and field bean (Vicia faba L.) plants grown under controlled environment conditions. Model compounds were applied to leaves as c.0.2-μl droplets of 0.5 g litre^?1 solutions in aqueous acetone in the absence or presence of surfactants at 0.2, 1 and 5g litre^?1. Uptake of the highly water-soluble compound, methylglucose (log octanol-water partition coefficient (P) = - 3.0) was best enhanced by surfactants with high E (ethylene oxide) contents (AE15, AE20), whereas those of the lipophilic compounds, WL110547 (log P = 3.5) and permethrin (log P = 6.5), were increased more by surfactants of lower E contents, especially AE6. However, there was little difference between AE6, AE11, AE15 and AE20 in their ability to promote uptake of the two model compounds of intermediate polarity, phenylurea (log P = 0.8) and cyanazine (log P = 2.1). Absolute amounts of compound uptake were also influenced strongly by both surfactant concentration and plant species. Greatest amounts of uptake enhancement were often observed at high surfactant concentration (5 g litre^?1) and on the waxy wheat leaves compared with the less waxy field bean leaves. The latter needed higher surfactant thresholds to produce significant improvements in uptake. Data from our experiments were used to construct a simple response surface model relating uptake enhancement to the E content of the surfactant added and to the physicochemical properties of the compound to be taken up. Qualitative predictions from this model might be useful in rationalising the design of agrochemical formulations.     

Modelling approaches to compare sorption and degradation of metsulfuron-methyl in laboratory micro-lysimeter and batch experiments

Results of laboratory batch studies often differ from those of outdoor lysimeter or field plot experiments--with respect to degradation as well as sorption. Laboratory micro-lysimeters are a useful device for closing the gap between laboratory and field by both including relevant transport processes in undisturbed soil columns and allowing controlled boundary conditions. In this study, sorption and degradation of the herbicide metsulfuron-methyl in a loamy silt soil were investigated by applying inverse modelling techniques to data sets from different experimental approaches under laboratory conditions at a temperature of 10 degrees C: first, batch-degradation studies and, second, column experiments with undisturbed soil cores (28 cm length x 21 cm diameter). The column experiments included leachate and soil profile analysis at two different run times. A sequential extraction method was applied in both study parts in order to determine different binding states of the test item within the soil. Data were modelled using ModelMaker and Hydrus-1D/2D. Metsulfuron-methyl half-life in the batch-experiments (t1/2 = 66 days) was shown to be about four times higher than in the micro-lysimeter studies (t1/2 about 17 days). Kinetic sorption was found to be a significant process both in batch and column experiments. Applying the one-rate-two-site kinetic sorption model to the sequential extraction data, it was possible to associate the stronger bonded fraction of metsulfuron-methyl with its kinetically sorbed fraction in the model. Although the columns exhibited strong significance of multi-domain flow (soil heterogeneity), the comparison between bromide and metsulfuron-methyl leaching and profile data showed clear evidence for kinetic sorption effects. The use of soil profile data had significant impact on parameter estimates concerning sorption and degradation. The simulated leaching of metsulfuron-methyl as it resulted from parameter estimation was shown to decrease when soil profile data were considered in the parameter estimation procedure. Moreover, it was shown that the significance of kinetic sorption can only be demonstrated by the additional use of soil profile data in parameter estimation. Thus, the exclusive use of efflux data from leaching experiments at any scale can lead to fundamental misunderstandings of the underlying processes.     

Separation of long and short particles of tobacco rattle virus with polyethylene glycol

Two methods to separate long and short particles of tobacco rattle virus with polyethylene glycol 6,000 (PEG) are described. The first is based on specific precipitation, the second on specific solubilization of particles with different lengths at different PEG concentrations. The results of the separations are comparable to, or better than those obtained by sucrose-gradient centrifuging. The advantage of the methods using PEG is that no expensive equipment is required.Samenvatting Twee methoden om lange en korte deeltjes van het tabaksratelvirus met behulp van polyethyleenglycol 6000 (PEG) te scheiden worden beschreven. De ene is gebaseerd op specifieke precipitatie, de andere op specifieke oplosbaarheid van deeltjes met verschillende lengten bij verschillende PEG-concentraties. De resultaten van de scheidingen zijn even goed als of beter dan die van scheidingen verkregen door centrifugeringen op een suikergradiënt. Het voordeel van de PEG-methoden is gelegen in het feit dat er geen kostbare apparatuur voor nodig is.     

Some physicochemical and environmental factors affecting transformation rates and sorption of the herbicide metamitron in soil

In addition to the molecular structure of a pesticide, environmental conditions may influence its persistence through their effect on the growth and activity of pesticide-degrading micro-organisms. As a result, transformation rates may decrease rapidly when a compound is leached into subsoil. Metamitron sorption isotherms were determined and incubation series were set up for a sandy loam soil, simulating single and combination effects that occur during transport of metamitron into subsoils. K_OC values increased with increasing depth from 185 to 700 litre kg⁻¹. A combination of conditions that are unfavourable for microbial activity, such as low temperature (5°C), low concentrations (0·5 mg kg⁻¹) and a large sorbed fraction (K_OC = 700) resulted in half-lives of over one year. Oxygen inhibition decreased the transformation rate of metamitron from 0·058 to 0·019 day⁻¹. In order of significance, the transformation of metamitron appears to be a function of temperature, oxygen availability and sorption to organic carbon. Increasing doses did not change transformation rates significantly, although different transformation pathways were observed.     

Mobilities of Organic Compounds in Reconstituted Cuticular Wax of Barley Leaves: Effects of Monodisperse Alcohol Ethoxylates on Diffusion of Pentachlorophenol and Tetracosanoic Acid

Effects of monodisperse alcohol ethoxylates on mobilities of ¹⁴C-labelled pentachlorophenol (PCP) and tetracosanoic acid (C₂₄AC) in reconstituted cuticular wax of barley leaves were measured. Depending on the respective alcohol ethoxylate investigated, the diffusion coefficient (D) of PCP in barley wax was increased by factors ranging from 3·3 to 19·6, whereas D of C₂₄AC, was increased by factors varying between 22 and 315. In order to analyse the relationship between the concentration of surfactants in the wax and their effects on D, the amounts of alcohol ethoxylates dissolved in the wax at equilibrium with external concentrations well above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) were determined. Wax/water partition coefficients (K_ww) of the alcohol ethoxylates were about one order of magnitude lower than cuticle/water partition coefficients (K_cw), which is a consequence of the semi-crystalline structure of the wax compared with amorphous cutin. Correlations between effects on D and maximum amounts of alcohol ethoxylates dissolved in the wax were obtained indicating an unspecific wax/surfactant interaction. This was solely dependent on the amount of surfactant sorbed to the wax, leading to increased mobilities of pesticides in the wax. Applying ESR-spectroscopy, which gave an insight into the molecular structure of the wax, supported this interpretation of an unspecific plasticising effect of the alcohol ethoxylates on the molecular structure of the wax. The results obtained in this study are in good accordance with the results obtained in a recent study investigating the effects of the same group of alcohol ethoxylates on mobilities of pesticides in isolated, but intact, cuticular membranes of Citrus. This demonstrates that the investigation of isolated and subsequently reconstituted cuticular wax is a useful model system analysing the mechanisms of the surfactant interaction with the transport-limiting barrier of plant cuticles.     

含水量和装载量对松木片吸附溴甲烷的影响

在18℃、RH为60%～70%室内恒温条件下,对不同含水率和不同装载量的松木片的熏蒸结果表明:松木片含水量对溴甲烷熏蒸处理效果影响明显。在18℃、8g/m3处理24h,松材线虫死亡率(y)与碎木片含水量(x)之间关系式为:y=129.654-1.062x(R=0.967);碎木片对溴甲烷的吸附随水分含量升高而增加,58%、55%、49%含水率的碎木片对溴甲烷的吸附与含水率为30%、37%碎木片的吸附差异显著。载量对溴甲烷熏蒸处理松木片中松材线虫影响显著,松材线虫死亡率(y)与松木片载量(x)之间关系式为:y=105.809-0.247x(R=0.973);随实验碎木片载量的增加,对溴甲烷的吸附量也加大。     

Visualization of the effect of a surfactant on the uptake of xenobiotics into plant foliage by confocal laser scanning microscopy

A radiolabelling method is generally used to determine the foliar uptake of xenobiotics. This technique cannot provide any information on the localization of chemicals inside leaf tissues. The influence of an alcohol ethoxylate surfactant on the uptake of three fluorescent dyes, difluorofluorescein (hydrophilic), rhodamine B (moderately lipophilic) and a naphthalimide dye (lipophilic), into the leaves of three contrasting species, bean (Vicia faba), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea), at 16 h after treatment was measured using a conventional wash‐off method and also visualized in vivo by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Whereas the lipophilic dyes showed greater intrinsic uptake than the hydrophilic one, the enhancing effect of the surfactant on uptake was more pronounced for the latter. CLSM revealed that the presence of the surfactant increased the transport of difluorofluorescein into the epidermal cells of bean and wheat leaves, but not cabbage leaves. Rhodamine B showed greatest transcuticular diffusion in all three species, but most of the dye moved into the vacuole of the epidermal cells. The naphthalimide dye was strongly retained by the wax–cuticle layer of all species, even in the presence of the surfactant. CLSM has proven to be an attractive tool for studying xenobiotic diffusion. The results obtained using fluorescent dyes are believed to be applicable to the foliar uptake of herbicides.     

The effect of drop speed,size and surfactant on the deposition of spray on barley and radish or mustard

Sprays composed of uniformly-sized drops were applied at different drop speeds to barley and either radish or mustard. Retention by the two broad-leafed species showed no major response to changes in drop speed, nor to the presence or absence of a surfactant. In contrast, the barley retained less spray when there was no surfactant and when the drops possessed higher momenta. The application of spray dropsat higher speeds would therefore appear to provide a basis for the development of selective retention techniques.     

Sorption/desorption behaviour of sulfonylurea herbicides as affected by the addition of fresh and composted olive cake to soil

The olive industry generates residues which can be applied as amendments to soils in their original form (olive cake) or after composting or vermicomposting processes. The addition, fresh or incubated, of these amendments to soil and of their different organic fractions was studied in relation to the sorption/desorption of three sulfonylurea herbicides, bensulfuron‐methyl, chlorsulfuron and prosulfuron. Herbicide sorption was low or very low, slightly promoted by the addition of the agricultural by‐products, especially olive cake, and mainly affected by pH of the soil solution, with the organic carbon content having no significant effect on herbicide retention. Desorption was only reduced when fresh olive cake was added. The incubation of soil and amendments for 3 months did not modify herbicide sorption, but made desorption reversible except for olive cake. The transformation of the organic matter of the amendments due to humification and maturity processes are likely to be responsible for this behaviour. Different organic fractions were removed to assess the influence of each fraction on sulfonylurea sorption. Only the removal of all studied organic fractions increased herbicide sorption, revealing the role of humin and mineral fractions in this process. Therefore, the use of organic amendments is not useful for reducing the risk of movement of ionisable molecules in soil.     

Novel 3,3a,5,9b-tetrahydro-2H-furo[3,2-c][2] benzopyran derivatives: synthesis of chiral glycol benzyl ether herbicides

Novel tricyclic 3,3a,5,9b-tetrahydro-2H-furo[3,2-c][2]benzopyran (TFB) derivatives were synthesized, and their herbicidal activities were elucidated. They were synthesized from D-glucose as a natural chiral source. The formation of the TFB skeleton was achieved by a Friedel-Crafts type intramolecular cyclization of methyl 5-deoxy-2,3-O-dibenzyl-5-C-methyl-D-xylofranosides. The intramolecular cyclization was dependent upon the electronic effects of the substituents at the C-2 benzyloxy group of methyl xylofranosides. Some TFBs exhibited a remarkable herbicidal activity to annual paddy weeds, such as Echinochloa sp, without injury to the rice.     

A review of the effects of humidity, humectants, and surfactant composition on the absorption and efficacy of highly water-soluble herbicides

It is well known that environmental conditions have an important influence on herbicide efficacy. In particular, the effect of humidity on herbicide uptake has been attributed to changes in cuticle hydration and droplet drying. As early as the 1950s, it was hypothesized that humectants such as glycerol would enhance herbicide uptake by not letting droplets dry, thus maintaining the herbicide in solution, and hence making it available for uptake. Shortly thereafter, evidence was found to support this hypothesis and humectants were used successfully in warm, dry areas to increase herbicide efficacy. However, by the mid-1980s, there was little use of humectants as research on humectants gave way to investigations on the effect of ethylene oxide (EO) content on surfactant performance to improve herbicide uptake and efficacy. While ethoxylated surfactants effectively increase the uptake of both lipophilic and hydrophilic herbicides, the suggestion that long EO chains have humectant properties is misleading, since the studies that led to this suggestion were performed at high humidity, which would prevent rapid droplet drying. Furthermore, current evidence suggests that highly water-soluble, ionic herbicides may be more sensitive to low humidity and rapid drop drying than lipophilic herbicides. Therefore, an overview is presented on the interaction of water-soluble herbicides with surfactants, the cuticle, and humidity, with particular emphasis on the impact of low humidity and humectants on herbicide uptake. It was found that when one focuses on research performed at low humidity the importance of humectants emerges, which is not in keeping with what is now commonly accepted.     

Effects and possible mode of action of some nonionic surfactants on the diffusion of [14C]glyphosate and [14C]Chlorotoluron acorss isoltated plant cuticles

The following are extended summaries based on posters presented at the 8th International Congress of Pesticide Chemistry (IUPAC), held in Washington, DC, USA, 4–9 July 1994. They are entirely the responsibility of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board of Pesticide Science.     

Application of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for rapid and accurate identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ralstonia solanacearum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum</Emphasis>

Ralstonia solanacearum “species complex” (RSSC) represents soil-borne plant pathogenic bacteria, consisting of diverse and widespread strains that cause bacterial wilt on a wide range of host plants. A recent polyphasic taxonomic study has divided the RSSC into three bacterial species; Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum (phylotypes I and III), Ralstonia solanacearum (phylotype II) and Ralstonia syzygii (phylotype IV). Currently, standard identification of RSSC in plant health laboratories mainly relies on performance of two tests that are based on a different principle. However, these tests are inadequate to precisely discriminate among the three bacterial species in the RSSC. The accurate identification of each of the three bacterial species in the RSSC requires additional molecular tests, including a phylotype determination. These methodologies are labor-intensive, time consuming and rather impractical for routine identification purposes in a plant health laboratory. We explored the potential for an accurate identification of R. pseudosolanacearum (phylotypes I and III) and R. solanacearum (phylotype II) in RSSC, upon implementation of the MALDI-TOF MS tool, and after the creation and validation of an in-house database supplementing the commercial database and covering the entire known genetic diversity in RSSC. MALDI-TOF MS is an emerging approach for identification of bacterial plant pathogens and has been shown to be robust and reproducible. Additionally, when compared to the conventional microbial identification methods it is shown to be less laborious and less expensive. Validation data demonstrated that our in-house database (Mass Spectra Profiles, MSPs) was very specific resulting in the rapid and accurate identification of Ralstonia solanacearum (phylotype II), and Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum (phylotypes I and III). Additionally, no false positive results were obtained with our in-house database for other related Ralstonia sp., such as the R. picketii isolate PD 3286, or for the Pseudomonas syringae and Pseudomonas spp. isolates.     

Survival and dispersal of a marked strain of Pseudomonas syringae in a maple nursery

A pathogenic Pseudomonas syringae strain resistant to rifampicin and nalidixic acid was sprayed upon and colonized maple twigs and perennial ryegrass. The inoculated twigs were sampled at intervals of 2-3 weeks from July 1985 to September 1986, and epiphytic populations of the marked strain recovered during this time ranged from undetectable to 10⁴ colony-forming units/g. The results showed that this strain of P. syringae could overwinter on maple twigs and potentially serve as a source of inoculum in the spring. Aerial dispersal was also investigated. The marked strain inoculated onto grass growing in pots was detected on medium in inverted petri plates, on maple leaves and with an Andersen sampler positioned from 12 to 100 cm above the grass. The number of detectable cells that dispersed vertically upwards was low even in the presence of wind, rain, or irrigation water. The marked strain inoculated onto maple branches was isolated from grasses under the inoculated trees, showing that P. syringae was dispersed downward. Lateral dispersal of the marked strain from inoculated to uninoculated trees was not detected. The identity of the antibiotic-resistant strain isolated from the trees and grasses was confirmed by DNA restriction-fragment profile analysis.