STOMATAL PENETRATION: EFFECT OF SURFACTANTS AND ROLE IN FOLIAR ABSORPTION

Stomatal penetration of aqueous solutions into pear (Pyrus communis L. cv. Bartlett) leaves was induced with surfactants. The effectiveness of surfactants in promoting stomatal penetration was related to their effectiveness in decreasing surface tension. Vatsol OT (dioctyl ester of sodium sulfosuccinic acid) was most effective, X-77 (compounded product of alkyl aryl polyethoxy ethanol, free fatty acids and isopropanol) intermediate, and Tween 20 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate) least effective. The percentage of stomata penetrated was limited, ranging from 0.5–4.5 %. There was no evidence of stomatal penetration of aqueous solutions with surface tensions of approximately 70 dyne cm⁻¹. The importance of stomatal penetration in foliar absorption under conditions of plant culture is discussed.     

Penetration of stomata by liquids: dependence on surface tension, wettability, and stomatal morphology

Wettability of the leaf surface, surface tension of the liquid, and stomatal morphology control penetration of stomata by liquids. The critical surface tension of the lower leaf surface of Zebrina purpusii Brückn. was estimated to be 25 to 30 dyne cm⁻¹. Liquids having a surface tension less than 30 dyne cm⁻¹ gave zero contact angle on the leaf surface and infiltrated stomata spontaneously while liquids having a surface tension greater than 30 dyne cm⁻¹ did not wet the leaf surface and failed to infiltrate stomata. Considering stomata as conical capillaries, we were able to show that with liquids giving a finite contact angle, infiltration depended solely on the relationship between the magnitude of the contact angle and the wall angle of the aperture. Generally, spontaneous infiltration of stomata will take place when the contact angle is smaller than the wall angle of the aperture wall. The degree of stomatal opening (4, 6, 8, or 10 μm) was of little importance. Cuticular ledges present at the entrance to the outer vestibule and between the inner vestibule and substomatal chamber resulted in very small if not zero wall angles, and thus played a major role in excluding water from the intercellular space of leaves. We show why the degree of stomatal opening cannot be assessed by observing spontaneous infiltration of stomata by organic liquids of low surface tension.     

MODIFICATION OF THE VEGETATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF PHASEOLUS VULGARIS WITH N,N-DIMETHYLAMINOMALEAMIC ACID

Bean plants treated with N, N-dimethylaminomaleamic acid (DMAM) were characterized by a reduction in plant height, dark-green foliage, short, thick internodes, restricted petiole extension, and, at high concentrations, a slight reduction in leaflet expansion and dry matter accumulation. DMAM specifically affects internodal and petiolar tissues. The inhibitory stimulus of DMAM is readily translocated following application to a single leaf and the subsequent suppression of stem elongation increased with increasing dose. The failure of the rachises of the trifoliate leaves to fully extend resulted in an overlapping of the bases of the lamellae of the individual leaflets. The inhibitory effects of DMAM on stem elongation can be completely reversed with gibberellin A₃ (10 or 100 ppm). This might suggest, that DMAM may be interfering with the natural synthesis of gibberellin in the plant.     

Ontogenetic variations in the composition of peach leaf wax

The composition of the epicuticular waxes from the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of peach leaves varies considerably during one season's growth. Triterpenoid acids are major components 84–95% of the waxes from the youngest leaves but the proportions of these constituents decrease as the leaves expand. The waxes from the abaxial surfaces of fully expanded leaves consist primarily of hydrocarbons (C_22–C34) and triterpenoid acids, whereas the adaxial surface waxes also contain large proportions of primary alcohols (C₂₆-C₃₄) and esters (C₄₂-C₅₂). The latter include sitosteryl esters of hexacosanoic, octacosanoic and eicosanoic acids. Variations were also noted between fully expanded leaves of different ages, the abaxial surface waxes of the oldest leaves containing the highest proportions of hydrocarbons, whilst the wax from the adaxial surface of the corresponding leaves contained the largest amounts of esters, sitosterol and hydrocarbons.     

Studies on Octylphenoxy Surfactants : III. Sorption of Triton X-100 by Isolated Tomato Fruit Cuticles

Sorption characteristics of a polyethoxy (EO) derivative of octylphenol (OP) were determined for enzymically isolated mature tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv Sprinter) fruit cuticles at 25°C. Sorption was followed using ¹⁴C-labeled OP + 9.5EO (Triton X-100). Solution pH (2.2-6.2) did not affect surfactant sorption by tomato fruit cuticular membranes (CM). Surfactant concentration (0.001-1.0%, w/v) had a marked impact on sorption. Sorption equilibrium was reached in 24 hours for OP + 9.5EO concentrations below the critical micelle concentration (CMC), whereas 72 to 120 hours were required to reach equilibrium with concentrations greater than the CMC. Regardless of when equilibrium was attained, initial sorption of OP + 9.5EO occurred rapidly. Partition coefficients (K) of approximately 300 were obtained at pre-CMC concentrations, whereas at the highest concentration (1.0%), K values were approximately 15- to 20-fold lower. Sorption was higher for dewaxed CM (DCM) than for CM. At OP + 9.5EO concentrations below the CMC, the amount (millimoles per kilogram) sorbed by CM and DCM increased sharply as the CMC was reached. After an apparent plateau in the amount sorbed at concentrations immediately below and above the CMC, sorption by CM and DCM increased dramatically with OP + 9.5EO concentrations greater than the CMC (0.5 and 1.0%). In contrast, sorption of OP + 5EO (Triton X-45) by CM and DCM differed from one another at relatively high (0.5 and 1.0%) concentrations, where sorption by DCM increased with increasing concentration, but plateaued for the CM. Sorption of OP + 9.5EO was also related to CM concentration, with an inverse relationship existing between sorption and CM at concentrations less than 3.33 milligrams per milliliter.     

Changes in indole-3-acetic acid,indole-3-acetic acid oxidase,and peroxidase isoenzymes in the seeds of developing peach fruits

Changes in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content of peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch cv. Merry) seeds were followed during fruit development. The highest concentration of IAA, 2.7 g/g fresh weight, was found at the beginning of Stage III of fruit development, approximately 50–60 days after anthesis. The IAA-decarboxylating capacity of crude extracts of seeds was also greatest at 55–60 days after anthesis. Four soluble peroxidase isoenzymes were found on anionic electrophoresis. There were no marked changes in two isoenzymes (R _f 0.23 and 0.51), which were present in all three stages of fruit growth. There was a marked increase in a band atR _f 0.59 between Stages II and III, and a decrease in a band atR _f 0.68 from Stages II to III. Neither band (R _f 0.59 and 0.68) was present at Stage I.     

Cherry fruit abscission: evidence for time of initiation and the involvement of ethylene

Initiation of abscission at the pedicel-fruit zone in the sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L. cv. Montmorency) occurs near the transition of Stage II to Stage III of fruit growth. The preinitiation phase is characterized by a high fruit removal force (FRF) and explants prepared from fruits during this period do not undergo abscission as indexed by a reduction in FRF. Ethylene does not cause a significant reduction in FRF either in attached fruit or in explants prepared during this period. By contrast, after initiation (Stage III of fruit growth), there is a marked decrease in FRF with fruit development, explants prepared from fruits during this period undergo abscission, and ethylene markedly promotes the loss in break-strength. Neither the rate of evolution nor the internal concentration of ethylene in the fruit were correlated with fruit abscission. Similar abscission responses, as indexed by FRF and sensitivity to ethylene, were observed in attached fruit and in detached fruit explants.     

Inhibition of selected plant systems by stereoisomers of chloramphenicol

The stereospecificity of chloramphenicol isomers on the inhibition of several plant systems was investigated. l-Threo, d-erythro, l-erythro and the antibiotic d-threo-chloramphenicol were effective inhibitors of auxin-induced elongation, ¹⁴C-leucine uptake and ¹⁴C-leucine incorporation into the protein fraction of coleoptiles from Avena sativa and Triticum vulgare. The isomers also inhibited Avena coleoptile uptake of ¹⁴C-α-aminoisobutyric acid and the de novo synthesis of α-amylase by aleurone layers from Hordeum vulgare seeds. All four compounds inhibited these processes to about the same extent and over a similar high concentration range (5 × 10⁻⁴ to 5 × 10⁻³ M). Bioassay of extracts from Avena coleoptiles treated with the non-antibiotic isomers revealed no tissue conversion into d-threo-chloramphenicol.