Predicting the behaviour of pesticides in soil from their physical and chemical properties

Increasingly stringent environmental requirements for pesticides mean that both biological activity and favourable environmental behaviour must be assessed at an early stage in pesticide discovery. Soil behaviour is governed by the physical properties of the molecule: partition coefficient, dissociation constant, vapour pressure and melting point, which control potential movement under particular soil and environmental conditions and the soil persistence. Established chemical structure-physical property correlations generally allow physical properties to be estimated for the large number of compounds in a synthesis programme with adequate precision. Stability to chemical or biological transformations in soil is more difficult to estimate but a combination of measurement for a few compounds and analogy with known chemical and biological transformation rates for various functional groups can give useful structure-stability correlations.     

Dark transpiration rate and water deficit as growth limiting factors in alfalfa plants

Growth, dark transpiration rate (DTR) as well as water saturation deficit (WSD) of 30 single plants of 8 alfalfa genotypes growing in experimental field of 50 × 10 cm spacing, in four cuts at early bud stage, were studied. The growth and WSD of genotypes examined were significantly different, the differences in DTR were not significant. The growth of alfalfa plants was in negative correlation with both DTR which reflects non-effective water loss and WSD. Significant negative correlation established between plant growth and its variability shows that fodder productivity in alfalfa genotypes was dependent on growth variability of individual plants. Positive correlations established between WSD or DTR and the growth variability show some of the causes of growth variability.     

The influence of the transpiration rate on uptake and transport of potassium ions in barley plants

Summary The vegetation points of branches of Caralluma frerei (Asclepiadaceae) were treated with 300, 100 and 30 ppm of crude aflatoxin (36% B₁, 38% G₁, 3% B₂, 2% G₂) and with toxin-free control. Application of 300 and 100 ppm aflatoxin resulted in stop of growth and death of the upper leaves and flower buds. Malformations or wilting was not observed in any case. Branches treated with 30 ppm aflatoxin and with control solution developed normally. It is concluced that under the experimental conditions used aflatoxin has an unspecific toxic effect.     

Cadmium distribution and chemical fate in soybean plants

The distribution and chemical behavior of Cd²⁺ in tissues and its chemical form in xylem water of soybean plants (cv. Williams) were investigated. Following root absorption, Cd is strongly retained by roots, with only 2% of the accumulated Cd being transported to leaves; as much as 8% was transported to seeds during seed filling. In vivo xylem exudates contained two anionic Cd complexes in addition to inorganic forms of Cd. Once accumulated in root and leaf tissues, Cd rapidly equilibrated between the insoluble, soluble, and organelle fractions. Of the solubles, which contain 50% of the Cd, >50% was associated with components of >10,000 molecular weight, and <8% was associated with <500 molecular weight components. Cadmium accumulated in soybean seeds was primarily associated with cotyledons. Fractionation of seeds showed the soy proteinate and soy whey to contain 32 and 50% of the accumulated Cd, respectively.     

Dependence of the genotypic characteristics of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans on the physical, chemical, and electrophysical properties of pyrites

Comparison of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strains TFV-1 and TFBk with respect to their capacity to oxidize pyrite 1, with hole-type (p-type) conductivity, or pyrite 2, with an electron-type (n-type) conductivity, showed that, at a pulp density of 1%, both before and after its adaptation to the pyrites, strain TFBk, isolated from a substrate with a more complex mineral composition, grew faster and oxidized the pyrites of both conductivity types more efficiently than strain TFV-1, which was isolated from a mineralogically simple ore. At a pulp density of 3-5%, the oxidation of pyrite 1 by strain TFV-1 and both of the pyrites by strain TFBk began only after an artificial increase in Eh to 600 mV. If the pulp density was increased gradually, strain TFBk could oxidize the pyrites at its higher values than strain TFV-1, with the rate of pyrite 2 oxidation being higher than that of pyrite 1. During chemical oxidation of both of the pyrites, an increase was observed in the absolute values of the coefficients of thermoelectromotive force (KTEMF); during bacterial-chemical oxidation, the KTEMF of pyrite 1 changed insignificantly, whereas the KTEMF of pyrite 2 decreased.     

The chemical characteristic and distribution of brassinosteroids in plants

Brassinosteroids represent a class of plant hormones with high-growth promoting activity. They are found at low levels in pollen, anthers, seeds, leaves, stems, roots, flowers, grain, and young vegetative tissues throughout the plant kingdom. Brassinosteroids are a family of about 60 phytosteroids. The article gives a comprehensive survey on the hitherto known brassinosteroids isolated from plants. The chemical characteristic of brassinosteroids is also presented.     

Chondronectin: physical and chemical properties

Chondronectin, the chondrocyte attachment factor, was purified from chicken serum and characterized as to its physical and chemical properties. From sedimentation equilibrium data it was found to have a native molecular weight of 175,800 +/- 800 and a subunit molecular weight of 55,540 +/- 800 in the presence of guanidinium chloride and cysteine, suggesting a trimeric structure linked by disulfide bonds. As visualized by electron microscopy after rotary shadowing, the protein appears compact and globular. The amino acid and carbohydrate compositions of chondronectin are distinct from fibronectin, the fibroblast attachment factor, and laminin, the epithelial cell attachment factor. The activity of chondronectin in promoting attachment of chondrocytes is stable to digestion by collagenase, elastase, and neuraminidase, but is destroyed by trypsin treatment. The data suggest that chondronectin is structurally and chemically distinct from fibronectin and laminin.     

Role and function of cytokinin oxidase in plants

Cytokinin oxidase (CK oxidase) is widely distributed in plants and is the only enzyme that has been shown unequivocally to catalyze the catabolism of specific cytokinins (CKs) to inactive products that lack the N⁶-unsaturated side chain. Thus, the enzyme is thought to play a major role in controlling the level or species of CKs in plant tissues. However, despite its discovery more than 25 years ago, little attention has been given to the elucidation of its role and function in plant growth and development. This review seeks to bring in to context the current state of knowledge regarding the biochemical and molecular properties, regulation in undifferentiated and differentiated tissues, and recent results from studies using transgenic plants in an attempt to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the physiological significance of the enzyme in plants. Notwithstanding species, tissue and other specific differences, in general, CK oxidase appears to contribute to CK homeostasis in plants. However, complete clarity as to its function awaits purification of the protein to homogeneity and the ultimate development of requisite molecular probes.     

The physical and chemical properties of eumelanin

In this article, we review the current state of knowledge concerning the physical and chemical properties of the eumelanin pigment. We examine properties related to its photoprotective functionality, and draw the crucial link between fundamental molecular structure and observable macroscopic behaviour. Where necessary, we also briefly review certain aspects of the pheomelanin literature to draw relevant comparison. A full understanding of melanin function, and indeed its role in retarding or promoting the disease state, can only be obtained through a full mapping of key structure-property relationships in the main pigment types. We are engaged in such an endeavor for the case of eumelanin.     

Abscisic acid and transpiration rate are involved in the response to boron toxicity in Arabidopsis plants

Boron (B) is an essential microelement for vascular plant development, but its toxicity is a major problem affecting crop yields in arid and semi‐arid areas of the world. In the literature, several genes involved in abscisic acid (ABA) signalling and responses are upregulated in Arabidopsis roots after treatment with excess B. It is known that the AtNCED3 gene, which encodes a crucial enzyme for ABA biosynthesis, plays a key role in the plant response to drought stress. In this study, root AtNCED3 expression and shoot ABA content were rapidly increased in wild‐type plants upon B‐toxicity treatment. The Arabidopsis ABA‐deficient nced3‐2 mutant had higher transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and accumulated more B in their shoots than wild‐type plants, facts that were associated with the lower levels of ABA in this mutant. However, in wild‐type plants, B toxicity caused a significant reduction in stomatal conductance, resulting in a decreased transpiration rate. This response could be a mechanism to limit the transport of excess B from the roots to the leaves under B toxicity. In agreement with the higher transpiration rate of the nced3‐2 mutant, this genotype showed an increased leaf B concentration and damage upon exposure to 5 mM B. Under B toxicity, ABA application decreased B accumulation in wild‐type and nced3‐2 plants. In summary, this work shows that excess B applied to the roots leads to rapid changes in AtNCED3 expression and gas exchange parameters that would contribute to restrain the B entry into the leaves, this effect being mediated by ABA.     

Prenylated flavonols and their distribution in flowering plants

The species of angiosperms known to contain prenylated flavonols and its glycosides have been listed family wise. It is present in 19 species in 14 genera and in six families of dicots only. The glycosides are confined to just two families. This review may suggest new sources for the compounds.     

植物中异戊烯基取代的酚类化合物及其分布

异戊烯基取代的酚类化合物由UbiA家族的异戊烯基转移酶(prenyltransferase)催化异戊烯基转移到芳香族化合物母核上,其亲脂性较无异戊烯基取代的化合物明显增强,并提高了与生物膜的亲和力,从而形成了各种具有重要生物学功能的活性分子,在植物防御和人体健康方面具有重要作用。本综述总结了538种异戊烯基酚类化合物的取代基类别和取代位点等,为发掘植物中新型异戊烯基转移酶,以及受体和供体的选择提供参考,以期有更多异戊烯基转移酶可应用于合成生物学来生产具有重要活性的异戊烯基酚类化合物。该文对国内外报道的378种类黄酮,80种香豆素类,27种醌类,32种二苯乙烯类,16种对羟基苯甲酸类,5种苯丙酸类共计538种异戊烯基取代的酚类化合物的取代基类别、取代位置以及在植物中的分布进行总结,发现异戊烯基酚类化合物主要分布在28个科中,且以C5和C10取代基为主。该文还综述了已鉴定功能的30余种植物芳香族异戊烯基转移酶。     

Subcellular distribution and chemical form of cadmium in bean plants

The subcellular distribution and chemical form of Cd in bean plants grown in nutrient solutions containing Cd were investigated. Cd was accumulated mainly in roots and to a minor extent in leaves. Subcellular fractionation of Cd-containing tissues (pH 7.5) showed that more than 70% of the element was localized in the cytoplasmic fraction in roots as well as in leaves. Little Cd (8 to 14%) was bound either to the cell wall fraction or to the organelles. Gel filtration of the soluble fraction showed Cd to be associated mainly with 5,000 to 10,000 molecular weight components in roots, and 700 to 5,000 molecular weight components in leaves. Small amounts of Cd were found in the high molecular weight proteins (molecular weight 150,000). Only traces of Cd could be detected as a free ion. Chemical characterization of the low molecular weight components resulted in the identification of nine amino acids which were identical in roots and leaves. Cd in bean plants is assumed to be bound to peptides and/or proteins of low molecular weight.