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.