Interaction between 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid and Vitamin K in Datura stramonium

Plants of the cross Datura stramonium L. var. stramonium×Datura stramonium L. var. inermis (Juss. ex Jacq.) Timm. were sprayed either with a water solution of the sodium salt of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) or with a combination of 2,4-D (sodium salt) and the vitamin K compound menadione sodium bisulfite in water solution. The plants were found to differ in one of their responses to the treatments, namely the development of necrotic spots on the leaf blades. Many necroses appeared on the plants treated with 2,4-D plus menadione sodium bisulfite while only a few necroses or none at all developed on the plants treated with 2,4-D alone. Furthermore, 2,4-D in combination with menadione sodium bisulfite induced much larger necrotic spots than did 2,4-D by itself. Spraying with menadione sodium bisulfite in water solution did not produce any observable effects upon Datura plants. The great increase in necrotic lesion formation was probably due to an interaction between 2,4-D and menadione sodium bisulfite (or a metabolite of this compound) within leaf cells.