Influence of Buthidazole, Diuron, and Atrazine on Some Light Reactions of Photosynthesis

Abstract

The influence of buthidazole {3-[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-imidazolidinone}, diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea], and atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] on fluorescence emission and post-luminescence decay in chlorella (Chlorella vulgarisBeyer) was studied. All three herbicides blocked photosynthetic electron transport and thus enhanced fluorescence. Buthidazole was the most active, a 79% increase in fluorescence being observed when algal cultures were exposed to 1 × 10-6M herbicide for 5 min, and a 206% increase with an exposure time of 60 min. Postluminescence in chlorella exposed to 1 × 10-6M buthidazole for 5, 10, 20, and 60 min was inhibited 15, 34, 58, and 69%, respectively. Diuron and atrazine inhibition of postluminescence was much less than that of buthidazole. The ratio of relative fluorescence to relative postluminescence can be sued to give a numerical value (C) for the phytotoxicity of this type of herbicide to a given plant species.