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Studies on commercial octamethyl‐pyrophosphoramide. III —decomposition of the insecticide in plants, using 32 P as a tracer
Author(s) -
Heath D. F.,
Lane D. W. J.,
Llewellyn Margaret
Publication year - 1952
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740030203
Subject(s) - decomposition , tracer , sugar , chemistry , toxicology , horticulture , botany , biology , food science , organic chemistry , physics , nuclear physics
Test‐plots of strawberries, sugar beet, hops and brussels sprouts were sprayed with the mixed insecticide, made radioactive by synthesizing it from 32 P, at various times from May to October. The insecticide sprayed contained roughly equal proportions of octamethylpyrophosphoramide, (Me 2 N) 4 P 2 O 3 , and its higher homologue, (Me 2 N) 5 P 3 O 5 . On analysing the sprayed crops at various times after spraying it was found that the concentration of both constituents in the plant fell at much the same rate, and that this rate varied little amongst the plant species treated providing all were treated at the same time of year. The rate slowed somewhat, however, as the year progressed from May to September, and became very slow indeed in October. It was also shown that the plants decomposed the insecticide. It is likely that practically the whole lowering of concentration with time is attributable to this decomposition.