Uptake, translocation, and metabolism of ( sup 14 C)thuringiensin (. beta. -exotoxin) in corn

Journal Article · · Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry; (USA)

OSTI ID:7190356

Mersie, W; Singh, M ^[1]

---

1. Univ. of Florida, Lake Alfred (USA)

The absorption, translocation, and metabolism of ({sup 14}C)thuringiensin ({beta}-exotoxin), an insecticide, derived from Bacillus thuringiensis was investigated in corn. Corn was harvested 3 and 7 days after its roots or leaves were exposed to thuringiensin. Corn absorbed more thuringiensin at 7 than 3 days of root exposure. Less than 10% of the applied thuringiensin was absorbed after 7 days of exposure. Only 12% of the foliar-applied thuringiensin was detected in the whole plant, and amounts absorbed at 3 and 7 days were similar. About 80% of the applied radioactivity was found in the leaf wash at both times of harvest, and only 20% of the absorbed was translocated out of the treated leaf. More than 95% of the absorbed radioactivity remained in the root. Time did not affect the distribution pattern of root- or foliar-applied thuringiensin in different parts of corn. In this study, thuringiensin was not readily absorbed by root or leaves of corn and had limited mobility in the plant. The insecticide was also not metabolized by corn shoot after 3 and 7 days of exposures. The implications of these results are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 7190356
• Journal Information: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry; (USA), Vol. 37:2; ISSN 0021-8561
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
INSECTICIDES
METABOLISM
ABSORPTION
LEAVES
MAIZE
ROOTS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRANSLOCATION
UPTAKE
CEREALS
DISTRIBUTION
GRASS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LILIOPSIDA
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
PESTICIDES
PLANTS
553003* - Agriculture & Food Technology- Pest & Disease Control- (1987-)