Effect of the herbicide atrazine on the bean leaf lipids

Eight-day-old bean plants, grown in a nutrient solution, were sprayed with 10(-5), 10(-4), 10(-3), and 10(-2) M atrazine, The lipid changes in primary and trifoliate leaves were studied 6 d after the herbicide application. Th e atrazine treatment inhibited the growth of the trifoliate leaves, and dec reased photosynthetic and transpiration rates, the stomatal conductance, an d the total lipid content. Atrazine treatment increased 16:0 and 18:3 acids and decreased trans-3-hexadecenoic and 18:2 acids in the phospholipids. Th e herbicide also increased 16:0 and 18:1 acids in glycolipids and decreased 18:3 acid in monogalactosyl diacylglycerols and digalactosyl diacylglycero ls, In most cases the marked changes in fatty acid composition of the main lipid classes were observed at 10(-4) and 10(-3) M atrazine.