Effects of ferulic acid,an allelopathic compound,on leaf expansion of cucumber seedlings grown in nutrient culture

Cucumber seeds and seedlings at various ages (7–19 days old) were treated with a single treatment or multiple treatments (at 2-day intervals) of ferulic acid in nutrient culture. Ferulic acid treatments of cucumber seeds during stages of germination and radicle growth did not significantly reduce subsequent seedling growth. Ferulic acid treatments to seedlings reduced leaf area, leaf expansion, and dry weight of cucumber seedlings. Pretreatment of seeds and seedlings with 0.1 or 0.2 mM ferulic acid did not modify the effects of a single 1 mM ferulic acid treatment on leaf expansion when a single treatment was given at various times to seedlings ranging from 7 to 19 days of age. Treatments of 1mM or greater induced rapid wilting of leaves, but visible recovery occurred within 24–48 hr and subsequent treatments did not cause wilting. Once seedlings were removed from ferulic acid treatments, leaf expansion resumed. The magnitude of recovery depended on the concentration of ferulic acid, frequency of ferulic acid application and age of the seedling. Mean relative rates of leaf expansion recovered rapidly even in the presence of ferulic acid. Recovery of leaf expansion after ferulic acid treatments was faster for seedlings grown in an adequate nutrient environment than for seedlings grown in a limited nutrient environment. Ferulic acid disappeared from nutrient solutions with time, and two microbial metabolic products of ferulic acid (i.e., vanillic and protocatechuic acid) were identified in nutrient solutions.Paper No. 9256 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina. Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the Agricultural Research Service and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may be suitable.     

Inhibition of cucumber leaf expansion by ferulic acid in split-root experiments

Experiments were conducted to determine how the proportion of a root system in contact with an allelopathic compound may affect seedling responses. Cucumber seedlings grown in a split-root nutrient culture system were given either single (1 mM) or multiple applications (0.5 mM) of ferulic acid. Seedlings receiving single applications were left in the treatment solutions for two days and then harvested, while seedlings receiving multiple applications had their solutions changed every other day for a total of three changes. Leaf areas were determined daily starting with the initial ferulic acid treatment. Mean absolute and mean relative rates of leaf expansion were inversely related to the proportion of the root system in ferulic acid solution. Leaf expansion was inhibited primarily during the first 24 hr after each treatment. A partial recovery of growth occurred during the second 24-hr period following each treatment. Root length was reduced by ferulic acid. These results suggest that information on root and allelochemical distribution in soils is important when assessing the potential of allelopathic interactions between plants.Paper No. 11940 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7643. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.     

Effects of mixtures of phenolic acids on leaf area expansion of cucumber seedlings grown in different pH portsmouth A1 soil materials

Cucumber seedlings growing in A₁horizon Portsmouth soil material adjusted to pH 5.2, 6.0, or 6.9 were treated with 0, 0.25 or 0.5, mol/ g soil ferulic acid,p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, or an equal mixture (0.5 mol/g total) of two acids every other day. A total of five treatments was given starting with day 7 from seeding. Absolute rates of leaf expansion were determined for seedlings. The experiment was terminated when seedlings were 17 days old. All three phenolic acids inhibited leaf expansion. The dose required for 50% inhibition of absolute rates of leaf expansion increased as pH of the soil systems increased. The order of toxicity based on 50% dose and relative potency were as follows: ferulic acid > vanillic acid =p-coumaric acid. Effects of mixtures of phenolic acids on absolute rates of leaf expansion, when compared to the effects of individual phenolic acids, were found to be antagonistic for the ferulic-vanillic acid mixture and the ferulic-p-coumaric acid mixture in the pH 5.2 soil systems. Several phenolic acid treatments were required before antagonistic effects of mixtures were evident. In all other instances, when treatment effects were significant, the effects of individual phenolic acids were additive.Paper No. 11875 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7601. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of the product named, nor criticism of similar products not mentioned. This research was partially supported by US-Spain Joint Committee for Scientific and Technological Corporation project CCA-8309/166.     

Simultaneous effects of ferulic andp-coumaric acids on cucumber leaf expansion in split-root experiments

Experiments were conducted to determine how plant responses to mixtures of allelochemicals may change as the proportion of roots in contact with allelochemicals is modified. Thirteen-day-old cucumber seedlings were treated with ferulic and/orp-coumaric acid in a split-root nutrient culture system. Leaf areas were determined just prior to treatment and at harvest, 24 hr after treatment. Ferulic acid was more inhibitory to cucumber leaf expansion thanp-coumaric acid. The effects of ferulic andp-coumaric acids on leaf expansion were additive. For individual acids, mixtures of ferulic andp-coumaric acids in the same container and combinations of ferulic andp-coumaric acids in separate containers, the inhibition of leaf expansion was directly related to the product of the concentration of the acid(s) and the proportion of roots treated with the acid(s). Pretreatment with 0.2 or 0.4 mM ferulic acid and subsequent treatment with 0.5 mM ferulic acid failed to show evidence of acclimation by cucumber seedlings.The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.     

Effects of ferulic andp-coumaric acids in nutrient culture of cucumber leaf expansion as influenced by pH

Cucumber seedlings were grown in 5 mM MES [2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid] -buffered nutrient solutions adjusted to a pH of 5.5, 6.25, or 7.0. Nutrient solutions were changed on alternate days. Seedlings were treated for a two-day period with various concentrations (0–1 mM) of ferulic acid,p-coumaric acid, or mixtures of these phenolic acids when 16 days old. Leaf growth, dry weight, and water utilization of the seedlings; pH of the solutions; and disappearance of the phenolic acids from nutrient solutions were monitored. Leaf area expansion of cucumber seedlings was inhibited by both ferulic andp-coumaric acid, and the magnitude of these inhibitions was influenced by concentration and pH. Inhibition of leaf area expansion was greater at pH 5.5 and nominal at pH 7.O. Ferulic acid was more inhibitory thanp-coumaric acid. The effect of pH on growth was best described by data for mean relative rates of leaf expansion. For example, the mean relative rates of leaf expansion by both acids at 0.5 mM for the 16- to 18-day growth period (treatment period) were reduced by 45, 31, and 8% for the pH 5.5, 6.25, and 7.0 treatments, respectively. The dry weight of seedlings at harvest (day 22) was significantly reduced for seedlings grown in the pH 5.5 and 6.25 treatments, but not for the pH 7.0 treatment. There was, however, one exception; the dry weight of seedlings treated withp-coumaric acid solutions adjusted to a pH of 5.5 was not significantly reduced. Water utilization by the seedlings was reduced by both ferulic andp-coumaric acid. Again, the impact of ferulic acid was greater thanp-coumaric acid. The effect of ferulic acid on water utlization decreased with increasing pH of the nutrient solution. The pH effects were not so consistent forp-coumaric acid. The effects of equimolar mixtures of the two phenolic acids were additive for all variables measured. There was a linear correlation between mean relative rates of leaf expansion and water utilization.Paper No. 9693 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Sevice, Raleigh, North Carolina. Mention of a trademark or a propriety product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the Agricultural Research Service and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may be suitable.     

Effects of various mixtures of ferulic acid and some of its microbial metabolic products on cucumber leaf expansion and dry matter in nutrient culture

Cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus cv. Early Green Cluster) ranging from 6 to 16 days of age were treated with various concentrations (0– 1 mM) of caffeic, ferulic,p-coumaric,p-hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic, sinapic, syringic, and vanillic acids and mixtures of ferulic acid and one or two of the other phenolic acids. Seedlings were grown in full-strength Hoagland's solution which was changed every other day. Phenolic acid treatments were given with each nutrient solution change starting at day 6 or given once when seedlings were 13 or 14 days old. Leaf area, mean relative rates of leaf expansion, transpiration rates, water utilization, and the concentrations of the phenolic acids in nutrient solution were determined at one- or two-day intervals. Seedling dry weight was determined at final harvest. Seedling leaf area and dry weight were linearly related. Since leaf areas can be easily obtained without destructive sampling and leaf area expansion responds rapidly to phenolic acid treatments, it was utilized as the primary indicator of plant response. The resulting data suggested that a number of ferulic acid microbial metabolic products, as well as two other phenolic acids observed in soils (p-coumaric and syringic acid), can reduce seedling dry weight, leaf expansion, and water utilization of cucumber seedlings in a similar manner. The magnitude of impact of each of the phenolic acids, however, varied with phenolic acid and concentration. It appears that the inhibitory activity of these phenolic acids involved water relations of cucumber seedlings, since the phenolic acid treatments resulted in closure of stomata which then remained closed for several days after treatment. The data also demonstrated that the effects of mixtures of phenolic acids on cucumber seedlings may be synergistic, additive, or antagonistic. The type of response observed appeared to be related to the factor measured, the compounds in the nmixture, and the magnitued of inhibition associated with each compounds. The data also indicated that the effects of the various phenolic acids were reversible, since seedling leaf area increased rapidly once phenolic acids were removed from the root environment. Mean relative rates of leaf expansion recovered even in the presence of the various phenolic acids.Paper No. 9396 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service. Raleigh, North Carolina. Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the Agricultural Research Service and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may be suitable.     

Effects of mixtures of phenolic acids on phosphorus uptake by cucumber seedlings

To determine how individual phenolic acids in a mixture might affect phosphorus (P) uptake, 15-day-old cucumber seedlings grown in solution culture were treated with ferulic, vanillic,p-coumaric, or equimolar mixtures of these phenolic acids. Phenolic acid and P uptake were determined by solution depletion. The joint action of the mixtures of these phenolic acids on P uptake was primarily additive. Thus, as the number of phenolic acids increased in the mixture, the concentrations of the individual phenolic acids in the mixture required to bring about a given response declined. Seedling uptake of individual phenolic acids from solution mixtures of phenolic acids was reduced when compared to the uptake of phenolic acids from single phenolic acid solutions. The magnitude of the reduction varied with phenolic acid and concentration. The dose required for 50% inhibition of P uptake was approximately two to three times higher for vanillic acid (6.73 mM) than for ferulic (2.27 mM) andp-coumaric acids (3.00 mM) when dose was based on the initial treatment concentrations. The dose required for 50% inhibition of P uptake was not significantly different for the three phenolic acids (42 ± 5 mol/g root fresh weight) when dose was based on phenolic acid uptake. Potential reasons for these differences are discussed.Paper No. 12527 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7643. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned. This research was partially supported by the US-Spain Joint Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation project CCA-8309/166.     

Effects of mixtures of four phenolic acids on leaf area expansion of cucumber seedlings grown in Portsmouth B1 soil materials

Cucumber seedlings growing in a 12 mixture of soil (Portsmouth B₁) and sand adjusted to pH 5.2 were treated every other day five times with 0, 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, or 0.5 mol/g soil of ferulic, caffeic,p-coumaric,p-hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic, sinapic, syringic, or vanillic acids. Treatments began when seedlings were 8 days old. The effects on mean absolute rates of leaf expansion were used to estimate the relative potencies of these phenolic acids to ferulic acid. Based on the results of this experiment, ferulic,p-coumaric,p-hydroxybenzoic, and vanillic acids were chosen for further study. Materials and procedures were identical in the second study, but treatments consisted of mixtures of the four phenolic acids at concentration combinations designed to achieve 40 % or 60 % inhibition of absolute rates of leaf expansion. Using joint action analysis, a model describing the action of the phenolic acid mixtures was developed. A model involving only two factor terms was sufficient to describe the observed responses of cucumber leaf area to the phenolic acid mixtures. The action ofp-hydroxybenzoic acid on absolute rates of leaf expansion was inhibited by the presence of the other three phenolic acids. No other antagonisms or synergisms existed among the four compounds.This research was partially supported by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7643 and by the US-Spain Joint Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation project CCA-8309/166.     

Effects of soil nitrogen level on ferulic acid inhibition of cucumber leaf expansion

It has been suggested that the allelopathic activity of phenolic acids should be primarily important in soils of low fertility. If this is true, then plant growth inhibition by phenolic acids may be unimportant in managed agricultural soils. The objective of this study was to determine how soil nitrogen (N) level might modify phenolic acid inhibition of growth. Cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus cv Early Green Cluster) grown in containers in growth chambers under varying N levels (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 g N/g soil) in Portsmouth B,-horizon soil material were treated with ferulic acid (0 or 10 g/g soil). Nitrogen and ferulic acid (FA) were applied every other day to the soil surface. The amount of FA in the soil solution declined with depth in the containers. A more rapid disappearance of FA from the soil solution was observed for the last FA treatment (0% recovered after 10 hr on day 23) than the first treatment (44% recovered after 10 hr on day 13). Both low N (5 g N/g soil) and FA treatments reduced shoot dry weight, the mean absolute (AGR) and the mean relative (RGR) rates of leaf expansion, and increased the root-shoot ratio. High N treatments reduced shoot dry weight and the AGR. Ferulic acid inhibited cucumber seedling growth over a range of N concentrations, suggesting that the allelopathic activity of phenolic acids may be important in both nutrient limiting and nonlimiting soils for some species.Paper No. 12219 of the journal series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7601. The use of tradenames in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.     

Effects of ferulic acid,an allelopathic compound,on net P,K, and water uptake by cucumber seedlings in a split-root system

Since distribution of allelopathic compounds in soils is highly variable, injurious effects by such compounds should be related to the frequency of contact with roots. Experiments were conducted to determine how P, K, and water uptake of cucumber seedlings were affected as the fraction of roots in contact with ferulic acid (FA) was increased. Seedlings were grown in Hoagland's nutrient solution for 14 days and then transferred to 0.5 mM CaSO₄ solution for 24 hr before being placed into a split-root culture system. The containers in the system were filled with 0.5 mM concentrations of KH₂PO₄ and CaSO₄ or 0.5 mM concentrations of KH₂PO₄, CaSO₄, and ferulic acid (FA). Net uptake of P by seedlings (milligrams per seedling) decreased in a curvilinear (concave) manner as the fraction of the roots in contact with FA increased. Net uptake of K (milligrams per seedling) and water (milliliters per seedling) by seedlings decreased linearly as the fraction of the roots in contact with FA increased. Net uptake of P, K, and water by seedlings was reduced 57, 75, and 29%, respectively, when the whole root system was exposed to FA. Net P and K uptake of roots (milligrams per gram root fresh weight) not in contact with FA decreased in a linear and curvilinear (convex) manner, respectively, as the fraction of roots in contact with FA increased. Net P and K uptake of roots in contact with ferulic acid increased in a linear and curvilinear (convex) manner, respectively. Net water uptake of roots (milliliters per gram root fresh weight) not in contact with FA increased in a curvilinear (concave) manner as the frequency of the roots in contact with FA increased. Net water uptake of roots in contact with FA did not show a trend. Transpiration (milliliters per square centimeter) was reduced in a linear manner as the fraction of roots in contact with FA increased. A very slight compensation by roots not in contact with FA for roots in contact with FA was observed for net water uptake rates. No compensation for P and K uptake rates was observed.Paper Mo. 12421 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7643. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of the products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.     

Statistical analysis of the joint inhibitory action of similar compounds

A statistical model is presented that characterizes the joint action of similar compounds when the response variable is continuous. The model allows for antagonistic and synergistic as well as similar joint (additive) action of compounds. It also allows for differential potencies in the compounds. A method of statistical analysis using nonlinear regression analysis is presented along with sample SAS code for carrying it out. An efficient experimental design is given in the form of a set of mixture combinations. Two generalizations of the model are discussed. An example is presented relating the joint action of ferulic and vanillic acids to the growth of cucumber seedlings.Paper No. 11878 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7601. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of the product named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned. This research was partially supported by US-Spain Joint Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation project CCA-8309/166.     

Influence of Phenolic acids on microbial populations in the rhizosphere of cucumber

Experiments were conducted to determine whether changes in soil microbial populations that occur in response to additions of certain allelopathic phenolic acids to bulk soil also occur in the rhizosphere. Cucumber seedlings were transplanted into cups containing a nutrient-enriched mixture of Portsmouth B₁, soil and sand and were watered five times (once every 48 hr) with aqueous solutions of ferulic,p-coumaric, or vanillic acid (each at 0, 0.25, or 0.50ol/g soil material). Nutrient solution was applied on alternate days. Leaf growth was suppressed by up to 42% by phenolic acids, but changes in root growth varied with the compound and concentration in solution. Significant increases (over 600% relative to controls) in populations of fast-growing bacteria in the rhizosphere were detected after two but not after five treatments, and increases (400% relative to controls) in numbers of fungal propagules were detected after five treatments. Such increases suggested that chronic exposure to a phenolic acid might resuit in high populations of rhizosphere microorganisms that could metabolize the compounds and thus alter observable responses by the plant. To test this, plants were watered repeatedly with a low-concentration solution of ferulic acid (chronic treatments; 0.0 or 0.1mol/g soil material in one experiment, 0.000 or 0.025imol/g soil material in a second) and then once with a highconcentration solution (acute treatment; 0.0, 0.5, or 1.0mol/g soil material in the first experiment; 0.000, 0.125, or 0.250mol/g soil material in the second).Paper No. 12385 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service or the United States Department of Agriculture of the products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned. Acute treatments and some chronic treatments suppressed leaf growth, but results were inconsistent for root growth. Acute treatments increased numbers of several types of bacteria in the rhizosphere but had inconsistent effects on fungi. Chronic treatments had no effect on numbers of bacteria or fungal propagules in the rhizosphere. Furthermore, chronic treatments did not alter responses of plants or microbial populations to the subsequent acute treatment. Results demonstrated that phenolic acids in soil, which must pass through the rhizosphere before interaction with plant roots can occur, alter the microbial ecology of the rhizosphere. However, microbially mediated acclimation of plants to relatively high concentrations of ferulic acid was not observed.     

Effects of ferulic acid and some of its microbial metabolic products on radicle growth of cucumber

An initial survey of the effects of aqueous solutions of ferulic acid and three of its microbial metabolic products at pH 4.5, 6.0, and 7.5 was determined on radicle growth of 11 crop species in Petri dishes. These bioassays indicated that cucumber, ladino clover, lettuce, mung bean, and wheat were inhibited by ferulic, caffeic, protocatechuic, and/or vanillic acids and that the magnitude of inhibition varied with concentration (0–2 mM), phenolic acid, and pH of the initial solution. The pH values of the initial solutions changed considerably when added to the Petri dishes containing filter paper and seeds. The final pH values after 48 hr were 6.6, 6.8, and 7.1, respectively, for the initial 4.5, 6.0, and 7.5 pH solutions. The amounts of the phenolic acids in the Petri dishes declined rapidly over the 48 hr of the bioassay, and the rate of phenolic acid decline was species specific. Cucumber was subsequently chosen as the bioassay species for further study. MES buffer was used to stabilize the pH of the phenolic acid solutions which ranged between 5.5 and 5.8 for all subsequent studies. Inhibition of radicle growth declined in a curvilinear manner over the 0–2 mM concentration range. At 0.125 and 0.25 mM concentrations of ferulic acid, radicle growth of cucumber was inhibited 7 and 14%, respectively. A variety of microbial metabolic products of ferulic acid was identified in the Petri dishes and tested for toxicity. Only vanillic acid was as inhibitory as ferulic acid. The remaining phenolic acids were less inhibitory to noninhibitory. When mixtures of phenolic acids were tested, individual components were antagonistic to each other in the inhibition of cucumber radicle growth. Depending on the initial total concentration of the mixture, effects ranged from 5 to 35% lower than the sum of the inhibition of each phenolic acid tested separately. Implications of these findings to germination bioassays are discussed.Paper No. 9000 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina. Mention of trade or company names does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may be suitable.     

Effects of ferulic acid onGlomus fasciculatum and associated effects on phosphorus uptake and growth of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)

The effect of ferulic acid, an allelochemical produced by asparagus, on hyphal elongation and colonization of asparagus byG. fasciculatum was studied. Spore germination in vitro was not affected, but hyphal elongation decreased significantly with increasing ferulic acid concentration. In the greenhouse, mycorrhizal colonization of roots and growth of mycorrhizal asparagus decreased significantly with increasing ferulic acid concentration, while growth of nonmycorrhizal plants was not affected by ferulic acid. Although plant tissue phosphorus levels were not affected by ferulic acid or mycorrhizal status, ferulic acid inhibition of hyphal elongation in vitro and fungal root colonization in vivo suggests that production of ferulic acid by asparagus reduces the symbiotic effectiveness of the fungus and subsequently reduces plant growth.Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Article Number 13065.     

Enrichment of phospholipids from neutral lipids in peanut oil by high-performance liquid chromatography

Phospholipids from crude peanut oil were enriched on a 2-cm silica column and subsequently separated from neutral lipids within the chromatographic system without prior concentration. Hexane effectively removed the bulk neutral lipids, leaving the adsorbed phospholipids on the silica precolumn. Individual phospholipids were separated from the remaining neutral lipids and from each other by using two mixed solvents and a gradient program. This method separates the phospholipids in approximately 27 min after the desired enrichment level has been reached. The research reported in this paper was a cooperative effort by the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture and the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, NC 27695-7625.     

Effects of exogenously applied ferulic acid,a potential allelopathic compound,on leaf growth,water utilization,and endogenous abscisic acid levels of tomato,cucumber, and bean

To determine the relative sensitivities of tomato, cucumber, and bean to exogenously applied concentrations of ferulic acid (FA) and to determine whether FA-induced stress responses increase endogenous levels of abscisic acid (ABA), wild-type andFlacca (ABA-deficient mutant) tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Ailsa Craig), cucumber, (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Early Green Cluster), and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Oregon 91) were treated with FA (0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 mM) in nutrient solution every other day for a total of two or three treatments. FA inhibited leaf growth and water utilization of wild-type tomato,Flacca tomato, and cucumber, but not of bean. Acclimation to FA was observed following the first FA treatment and increased endogenous ABA levels were found in wild-type tomato,Flacca tomato, and cucumber following multiple FA treatments. Induction of ABA biosynthesis occurred in wild-type tomato within 8 hr of FA treatment and maximum ABA levels were observed 24 hr after treatment. At that time, ABA levels of tomato treated with 0.4 and 0.8 mM FA were 13.7 times and 2.6 times higher than control levels, respectively. A second FA (0.4 or 0.8 mM) treatment, 48 hr after the first, did not appear to affect ABA levels. Ninety-six hours after the first treatment, ABA levels of tomato treated with 0.4 mM FA approached control levels; ABA levels of plants treated with 0.8 mM FA were 1.9 times higher than control levels. Control ABA levels increased gradually with time. The data showed that plant sensitivity and ability of subsequent acclimation to phenolic acids, such as FA, were taxa dependent.The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of the products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.     

Effect of day length and light intensity on 2-tridecanone levels and resistance inLycopersicon hirsutum f.glabratum toManduca sexta

First instarManduca sexta (L.) larvae confined on foliage fromLycopersicon hirsutum f.glabratum (accession PI 134417) plants grown under a long-day regime exhibited greater mortality than larvae on foliage from plants grown under a short-day regime. 2-Tridecanone, a toxin important in the insect resistance of PI 134417, was significantly more abundant in the foliage of plants grown under the long-than the short-day regimes. Light intensity influenced neither 2-tridecanone levels nor the expression of resistance. The density of glandular trichomes, which secrete 2-tridecanone, was influenced by an interaction between day length and light intensity.Lepidoptera: Sphingidae.Paper no. 6503 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina 27650.     

Use of water and EDTA extractions to estimate available (free and reversibly bound) phenolic acids in Cecil soils

Sterile and microbe reinfested Cecil A_p and B_t soil materials amended with 0 to 5 µmol/g of ferulic acid,p-coumaric acid,p-hydroxybenzoic acid, or vanillic acid were extracted after varying time intervals with water, EDTA, or NaOH to characterize sorption of cinnamic and benzoic acid derivatives and to determine the effectiveness of water and EDTA extractions in estimating concentrations of free and reversibly bound phenolic acids in soils. Basic EDTA (0.5 M, pH 8) extractions and water extractions provided good estimates of both free and reversibly bound cinnamic acid derivatives, but not of benzoic acid derivatives. Neutral EDTA (0.25 M, pH 7) and water extractions, however, were effective for both cinnamic and benzoic acid derivatives Rapid initial sorption of both cinnamic and benzoic acid derivatives was followed by slow long-term sorption of the cinnamic acid derivatives. Slow long-term sorption was not observed for the benzoic acid derivatives. The amount of sorption of phenolic acids in soil materials was directly related to the concentration of phenolic acids added to soil materials. The addition of a second phenolic acid to the soil materials did not substantially affect the sorption of each individual phenolic acid. Sodium hydroxide extractions, which were made only after phenolic acids in phenolic acid-amended and non-amended soil material were depleted by microbes, confirmed that neutral EDTA and water extractions of soils can be used to make accurate estimates of baseline (residual) levels of free and reversibly bound phenolic acids available to soil microbes and, thus, potentially to seeds and roots.The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.     

Phenolic acid content of soils from wheat-no till,wheat-conventional till,and fallow-conventional till soybean cropping systems

Soil core (0–2.5 and/or 0–10 cm) samples were taken from wheat no till, wheat-conventional till, and fallow-conventional till soybean cropping systems from July to October of 1989 and extracted with water in an autoclave. The soil extracts were analyzed for seven common phenolic acids (p-coumaric, vanillic,p-hydroxybenzoic, syringic, caffeic, ferulic, and sinapic; in order of importance) by high-performance liquid chromatography. The highest concentration observed was 4 g/g soil forp-coumaric acid. Folin & Ciocalteu's phenol reagent was used to determine total phenolic acid content. Total phenolic acid content of 0- to 2.5-cm core samples was approximately 34% higher than that of the 0- to 10-cm core samples. Phenolic acid content of 0- to 2.5-cm core samples from wheat-no till systems was significantly higher than those from all other cropping systems. Individual phenolic acids and total phenolic acid content of soils were highly correlated. The last two observations were confirmed by principal component analysis. The concentrations were confirmed by principal component analysis, tions of individual phenolic acids extracted from soil samples were related to soil pH, water content of soil samples, total soil carbon, and total soil nitrogen. Indirect evidence suggested that phenolic acids recovered by the water-autoclave procedure used came primarily from bound forms in the soil samples.The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.     

Toxicity studies of analogs of 2-tridecanone,a naturally occurring toxicant from a wild tomato

Toxicity bioassays of the naturally occurring insecticide 2-tridecanone and a group of structural analogs against the tomato fruitworm (Heliothis zea) reveal a significant influence of chain length on toxicity of methyl ketones. This effect may be due to the differential ability of these compounds to penetrate lipid barriers and reach the active site, since a close relationship is seen between toxicity and lipophilicity. Congeners of chain lenths 15 and over are less active than predicted by this relationship, possibly due to steric effects.Received for publication June 29, 1981, paper no. 6973 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina 27650.