Phytotoxicity of selected herbicides to mung bean (Phaseolus aureus Roxb.)

Mung bean (Phaseolus aureus Roxb.) is grown after harvest of wheat during the fallow period. Herbicides such as metsulfuron, atrazine and isoxaflutole are recommended to control weeds in wheat–rice cropping system including weeds of fallow crop. The effects of three herbicides with different modes of action—atrazine, photosystem II inhibitor; metsulfuron, acetolactate synthase inhibitor; and isoxaflutole, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvatedioxygenase inhibitor—on shoot height, chlorophyll concentrations and cellular damage in herbicide-treated mung bean were studied. While isoxaflutole inhibited shoot growth and chlorophyll concentration of mung bean, atrazine and metsulfuron did not cause reduction in the shoot growth of mung bean. Metsulfuron (226, 452, 1356 and 2260 μg/kg soil) and isoxaflutole (452, 1356 and 2260 μg/kg soil) in soil reduced the concentration of leaf chlorophyll of mung bean compared to the control. Atrazine in soil did not affect the total chlorophyll concentration of mung bean leaves. Electron micrographs showed that untreated mung bean had elongated chloroplasts, thylakoids organized as intact grana, distinct starch grains and a small number of plastoglubuli. Mesophyll cells of atrazine-treated mung bean leaves had swollen chloroplasts and thylakoids with disorganized grana. Leaves of metsulfuron-treated mung bean had swollen chloroplasts with a large number of starch grains. Starch grains were not observed in leaves of mung bean treated with either atrazine or isoxaflutole. Complete disruption of thylakoids was observed in isoxaflutole-treated mung bean leaves. Leaves of atrazine-treated mung bean showed detached microfibrils along with distorted and degenerated secondary walls. Metsulfuron-treated mung bean leaves showed aggregated microfibrils with completely dissolved secondary walls, while isoxaflutole-treated leaves had completely degenerated secondary walls with complete loss of microfibrils. We conclude that isoxaflutole at higher doses, influence mung bean at the morphological, physiological and cellular levels.     

Comparison of the developmental patterns of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase between mung bean and cucumber cotyledons during and following germination

The development of mitochondrial NAD⁺-malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) in mung bean and cucumber cotyledons was followed. using the antibody raised against it, during and following germination. The developmental patterns were quite different between the two. In cucumber, the content of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase continued to increase through 3–4 days after the beginning of imbibition. This was, at least in part, due to active synthesis of the enzyme protein, and the synthesis seemed to be regulated by the availability of the translatable mRNA for the enzyme. In mung bean, on the other hand, the enzyme was present in dry cotyledons at a rather high concentration, and remained at a constant level between day 1 and day 3 after the reduction of the content to one-half its initial level during the first day. De novo synthesis of the enzyme could not be detected in mung bean cotyledons by pulse-labeling experiment.     

Effect of salt and water stress on RNA synthesis in the excised embryo axis of germinating mung bean (Phaseolus aureus ROXB).

The rate of synthesis of RNA was studied under salt and water stresses created by the addition of four different salts and polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG-6000) in excised embryo axis of mung bean using^l4C-uracil. Iso-osmotio concentrations of salts and PEG resulted in differential effect on RNA synthesis. PEG inhibited, whereas salt stimulated incorporation of labelled uracil into RNA. Ionic differences on RNA synthesis were very clear as synthesis of RNA was more affected with sulphate than chloride and with sodium than potassium ions.     

Changes in the forms of invertase during germination of mung bean seeds

High levels of ‘alkaline’ invertase activity occur in dormant mung bean seeds. During germination this activity decreases rapidly and is replaced by high ‘acid’ invertase activity. Cycloheximide prevented the formation of the latter activity and also inhibited germination. It is suggested that de novo synthesis of ‘acid’ invertase occurs during germination. Both enzymes bind to concanavalin A and, hence, are presumed to be glycoproteins. Affinity-purified enzyme samples show similar ratios of ‘acid’ and ‘alkaline’ invertase activities to the crude preparations indicating that specific enzyme inhibitors or activators are probably not involved in controlling the activities in vivo.     

Dynamic of lectin activity during germination of bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

PHA quantity and activity dynamics during early germination of bean seed were investigated. Electrophoretic characteristics, subunits composition and carbohydrate-binding specificity of lectin extracted from white kidney bean cv. Bilozerna were studied. It was shown that investigated lectin consisted of 2 subunits E and L with molecular weight 34 and 36 kDa, respectively, analogously to purified PHA ("Serva", Germany), and specifically bound N-acetyl-D-galactosamin and galactose. During germination both quantity and activity of PHA were dramatically decreasing in embryonic axes and in cotyledons, possibly, as a result of the lectin release from seeds to the environment. It is very likely that one of the defence mechanisms of germinating seeds is related with the releasing of lectins that are able to bind components of the bacterial cell wall and to inhibit their growth.     

Effects of 2-benzoxazolinone on the germination, early growth and morphogenetic response of mung bean (Phaseolus aureus)

2‐Benzoxazolinone (BOA), a type of hydroxamic acid present in cereals and implicated in allelopathy, is now being viewed as a potential candidate for the development of natural herbicides. A study was conducted to determine the effect of BOA on mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) through a multitude of bioassays to understand its physiological and biochemical action. It was observed that BOA significantly decreased the germination of mung bean and its early growth (measured in terms of seedling length and dry weight). A typical dose–response relationship was observed with BOA treatment, and I₅₀ values (concentrations at which 50% inhibition occurs) for germination, seedling length and seedling dry weight were calculated to be 4.3, 0.71 and 0.77 mM , respectively. There was therefore a greater inhibitory effect on seedling growth than on germination. Treated seedlings were characterised by a loss of chlorophyll and decreased respiratory activity, indicating a possible adverse effect of BOA on photosynthetic and respiratory metabolism. Mitotic activity in root‐tip cells of onion (Allium cepa) was completely arrested in response to BOA treatment, and the cells exhibited abnormality in shape and size. BOA also adversely affected rhizogenesis in hypocotyl cuttings of mung bean, indicating an impact on morphogenetic potential. It was associated with significant changes in the protein content and activities of proteases and polyphenol oxidases during the root development phase. This study concludes that BOA interfered with essential biochemical processes in mung bean. Such studies provide useful information on the biochemical and physiological modes of actions of BOA, with a view to its use as a herbicidal compound.     

Changes in malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes during differentiation of rabbit bone marrow erythroid cells

• 1.l. Malate dehydrogenase activity was assayed in rabbit bone marrow erythroid cells which had been separated by velocity sedimentation into six fractions corresponding to different stages of development.
• 2.2. During differentiation enzyme activity decreased 10-fold and one of the two isoenzymes present in immature cells was lost.
• 3.3. The most extensive change occurred in orthochromatic erythroblasts immediately after condensation of the nucleus.

     

Water-deficit tolerance induction during germination of Jalo Precoce bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar

Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars are susceptible to water stress, especially during germination. Salicylic acid and thermal shock improve tolerance level in this plant to different kinds of stresses. However, in the present work, effects of cold shock and salicylic acid alone or combined on germinating beans under imposed water deficit were evaluated. Bean seeds from the Jalo Precoce cultivar were imbibed either in water or in salicylic acid for 24 h. After treatment, lots were divided and exposed to cold shock (7 °C) for another 24 h. The seeds were then placed on paper rolls imbibed with different concentrations of mannitol to impose a water deficit on them. They were evaluated for germination; seedling vigour; dry and total weights and length of shoot root; superoxide dismutase activity and proline content. Proline accumulates as a response to water-deficit stress, and SA alone or combined with cold shock improves this response. The use of SA increases many of the physiological variables than cold shock and decreases the antioxidant activity of SOD.     

Changes in lactate and malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in salmonella under the effect of potassium dichloroisocyanurate

The method of enzyme-electrophoresis in agar gel according to Wieme (1959) was used for the study of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) isoenzymes of 24-hour and 48-hour Salmonella cultures exposed to a 0.02% solution of potassium dichloroisocyanurate (PDIC). Severe repression of LDH and MDH isoenzymes was observed immediately after the exposure of the culture to the disinfectant solution. A significant decrease in the content of the isoenzyme LDH1 and of the cytoplasmic fraction (C1) of MDH simultaneously with the appearance of the fractions LDH4, LDH1a and LDH1b were established in the strains cultured on MPA in the course of 24 hours following the exposure. A tendency to a decrease in the LDH1 content was preserved in the experimental cultures after 48 hours, but the spectrum of MDH isoenzymes showed almost no differences in comparison with that of MDH isoenzymes in 48-hour cultures of the control strains.     

The inheritance of some characters in the mung bean,Phaseolus aureus roxb

Four allelic pairs were found to segregate from the cross between two mung bean varieties:rrGGSSdd×RRggssDD. R.rr stands for red versus green cotyledons, hypocotyl and top of leaflet stalk, and for beige yellow versus bright yellow flowers. Seed coat differences areG.-gg for green versus yellow (or brownish) basic colour,S.-ss for spotted (mottled) versus non-spotted (self colour), andD.-dd for dull versus shiny surface.In the spotted class (S.), R.-rr conditions spot covered (SS) and dark spotted (Ss) versus light spotted (SS andSs). Consequently, the F₁ is dark spotted.The recombination value betweenR-r andD-d was 15%.The findings are compared with data from litterature onPhaseolus aureus and its close relatives.     

Observations on the enzymatic synthesis of a beta-1,4-glucan by a soluble preparation form mung bean(Phaseolus aureus)

An enzyme extract of mung bean roots and hypocotyls (Phaseolus aureus) that catalyzes the synthesis of a β-1,4-glucan from guanosine 5′-diphosphate-d-glucose was prepared by a modification of the method of T.-Y. Liu and W. Z. Hassid (1970, J. Biol. Chem.245, 1922–1925). Its activity was not increased by any of those factors that have contributed to the marked improvement in the performance of various cell-free polysaccharide-synthesizing systems from other organisms. Evidence is presented to suggest that in the mung bean system a stable precursor of the cell wall polysaccharide or intermediate in its synthesis is formed by incubation of the enzyme with guanosine 5′-diphosphate-d-mannose.     

Hydrogen peroxide induces a rapid production of nitric oxide in mung bean (Phaseolus aureus).

Nitric oxide (NO) has recently been identified as an important signaling molecule in plant immune response. The present study aims to investigate the signaling pathway that leads to NO production. Using the NO specific fluorescent dye DAF-2DA, we observed rapid production of NO in mung bean leaves after the addition of 10 mM hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). NO was probably produced by a NOS-like enzyme in plants, as the NO production was inhibited by l-NAME, a NOS inhibitor. The NOS-like activity in the total leaf protein preparation of mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) was elevated 8.3-fold after 10 mM H(2)O(2) treatment, as demonstrated using the chemiluminescence NOS assay. The NOS-like activity was BH(4) dependent: omitting BH(4) in the reaction mixture of NOS assay reduced the NOS activity by 76%. We also found that the H(2)O(2) induced NO production was mediated via calcium ion flux, as it was blocked in the presence of a calcium ion channel blocker, verapamil. Results from the present study identified H(2)O(2) as an upstream signal that leads to NO production in plants. H(2)O(2) and NO, besides acting as two independent signaling molecules in plant immune response, may interrelate to form an oxidative cell death (OCD) cycle.     

Effect of eucalyptus oil on germination and growth of Phaseolus aureus Roxb.

Crude oil from Eucalyptus globulus and E. citriodora was extracted and the rich components, cineole and limonene were fractionated. The vapours of these oils and fractions were adsorbed onto the soil in one set of germination trials while in the other set a vapour column of volatile oils was maintained above the oil-treated soil. In both sets seed germination, seedling growth, relative growth rate, water content, height and number of leaves of Phaseolus aureus var. ML-267 were compared to those of controls. All parameters were found to be significantly affected. The effect was more pronounced with a combination of eucalyptus oil onto soil and a vapour-rich air column. There was a strong correlation between the vapour concentration and its inhibitory effect.     

Fungitoxicity of mineral oils against Rhizoctonia solani causing damping-off of mung bean (Phaseolus aureus)

Three mineral oils, BSO, EWOS and E9267 and one vegetable oil (mustard oil), did not appreciably inhibit the mycelial growth of Rhizoctonia solani. However, treatment of 100 g seeds of mung bean with 2 ml EWOS and E9267 oils controlled more than 90% of the pre- and post-emergence damping-off and protected seedlings in soil inoculated with R. solani 5 days after sowing. Soaking seeds in solutions of these oils or drenching the soil did not control damping-off. Mustard oil controlled only pre-emergence damping-off.