acid-phosphatase and metalaxyl

The elimination has been studied of racemic and enantioenriched metalaxyl applied as an emulsifiable concentrate and wettable powder combined with copper in a Cameroonian field site. The kinetics of the degradation/dissipation of metalaxyl and its acid metabolite were investigated using reversed phase HPLC-MS/MS, while the enantiomeric ratios were measured by HPLC-MS/MS using a Chiralcel OD-H HPLC column. Some soil enzymes activities were determined concurrently for 120d. The elimination of racemic metalaxyl was shown to be enantioselective, with the R-enantiomer being degraded more slowly than the S-enantiomer. Dissipation followed approximate square root first-order kinetics (R>0.98) without lag phases. The enantiomers of metalaxyl have different elimination rates, with half-lives ranging from only 0.8 to 1.5 days. After application to soil, the elimination of metalaxyl in the copper containing formulation was slower. The activities of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and alkaline glucosidase were monitored throughout the experiments. No significant influence of metalaxyl and copper could be observed on these parameters. The significantly shorter half-life values of all forms of metalaxyl under field conditions, compared to the previously reported laboratory derived ones, may have implications for the plant disease control with these fungicides in tropical rainforest areas.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Alanine; Alkaline Phosphatase; beta-Glucosidase; Biodegradation, Environmental; Cameroon; Copper; Fungicides, Industrial; Soil Microbiology; Soil Pollutants; Stereoisomerism; Tropical Climate

The degradation of various formulations of the racemic mixture and the enantiomers (including mefenoxam) of metalaxyl in typical soils from Germany and Cameroon in controlled incubation experiments was studied. The kinetics of the degradation or transformation was determined by means of reversed phase HPLC, while the enantiomeric ratios were measured by HPLC with a chiral Whelk O1 column. The dynamics of the quantitative changes in microbiological properties induced by the addition of these fungicides at their recommended field rates were determined in the soils during a 120-day incubation experiment. The degradation followed first-order kinetics (R > or = 0.96). Higher metalaxyl acid metabolite concentrations were found in German than in Cameroonian soils. The enantiomers of the fungicide had different degradation rates in both soils, with half-lives ranging from 17 to 38 days. All forms of metalaxyl had lower degradation rates in the Cameroonian soil than in the German soil. The degradation of the R-enantiomer was much faster than the S-enantiomer in the German soil and slower than the S-enantiomer in the Cameroonian soil, suggesting that different microbial populations, which may be using different enzymes, have different degradation preferences. The type of soil significantly influenced the effect of these fungicides on the soil parameters studied. Incorporation of these fungicides resulted in a change in the ecophysiological status of the soil microbial community as expressed by microbial activities. The activity of phosphatases and fl-glucosidase, the mineralization and availability of N and most plant nutrients in soils were stimulated, whereas the activity of dehydrogenase and the availability of NO3-, were generally adversely affected. The soil NH4+, NO3-, and enzymes activities values in general did not correlate with the degradation of metalaxyl in both soils. However, the degradation of formulated and unformulated metalaxyl was positively correlated to the activity of acid phosphatase in the German soil (R, 0.84 and 0.94 respectively) and in the Cameroonian soil (R, 0.97 and 0.96 respectively).

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Alanine; Alkaline Phosphatase; Biodegradation, Environmental; Cameroon; Climate; Fungicides, Industrial; Germany; Glucosidases; Nitrates; Nitrogen; Oxidoreductases; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Soil Microbiology; Soil Pollutants

Cytochemical localization of acid and alkaline phosphatases, cytochrom c-oxidase, peroxidases and catalase was carried out on Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de By. and Mucor mucedo (L.) Fres. First results are obtained about the influence of sublethal dosages of fungicidal compounds on the demonstration of these enzymes in the electron-microscope.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Alanine; Alkaline Phosphatase; Catalase; Chlorobenzenes; Electron Transport Complex IV; Fungi; Fungicides, Industrial; Histocytochemistry; Lysosomes; Microscopy, Electron; Mucor; Peroxidases; Phytophthora