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Some biochemical investigations into the susceptibility of barley varieties to DDT
Author(s) -
Upshall D. G.,
Goodwin T. W.
Publication year - 1964
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.2740151207
Subject(s) - strain (injury) , chloroplast , germination , toxicity , biology , pesticide , chemistry , food science , botany , agronomy , biochemistry , organic chemistry , anatomy , gene
The internal DDT deposits in the leaves of a barley strain (Rika) which is susceptible to DDT and of one (Proctor) which is resistant, were found to be the same. DDT specifically accumulated to the same extent in both strains. Neither DDT (2.56 × 10 −5 M) nor DDE (2.75 × 10 −5 M) inhibited the Hill reaction in either strain. When DDT at approximately 30 p.p.m. was included in a water culture solution, no adverse effect on the root system of either strain was noted; only very slight uptake of DDT into the plant was noted. The susceptible strain when germinated in the presence of DDT is not adversely affected until the 10th day, i.e., when all food reserves are used up. No significant metabolism of DDT by either strain could be observed even when [14C]‐DDT was used. Examination of 19 DDT analogues revealed three structural requirements for toxicity. It is concluded that DDT exerts its toxic effect in Rika by gaining access to a functional lipoprotein in the chloroplast by being able to penetrate the membrane; in Proctor it is adsorbed on the chloroplast but presumably cannot penetrate the chloroplast membrane.