Effect of fluazifop-p-butyl treatment on pigments and polyamines level within tissues of non-target maize plants

Fluazifop-p-butyl (FL) is one of the most popular graminicides from arylophenoxypropionate group. These herbicides act as inhibitors of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) that catalyzes the formation of malonyl-CoA during metabolism of lipids and/or of some secondary compounds. On the other hand arylopropionates and cyclohexanediones cause phytotoxic effects by stimulating free-radicals generation and causing oxidative stress in susceptible plants. However, the importance of disturbances in plant pigments and polyamines accumulation for this effect is not clear. The aim of this work is to quantify the phytotoxicity of FL to non target maize plant and to explain how photosynthetic pigments, anthocyanins (ANC) and polyamines participate in this interaction. Obtained results showed reduction of chlorophyll a and b, but only in case of the highest herbicide dose. Lower FL concentrations caused increase of the photosynthetic pigments, or were not effective. A similar effect was stated for putrescine, while spermidine was reduced within epicotyl of leaf tissues. In case of 2-phenylethylamine (PEA), there was observed a lack of significant changes within leaves and an increase in epicotyl under the middle and the highest dose of the herbicide. Moreover, FL induced ANC accumulation in epicotyls of maize seedlings. The activity of such key enzymes of polyamine biosynthesis as: ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and lysine decarboxylase (LDC), increased in leaves treated with herbicide at the lowest concentration and decreased under the highest. However, in case of epicotyls the decreasing tendency was observed with the exception of ODC under the highest FL dose. The activity of tyrosine decarboxylase (TyDC) was importantly elevated only within epicotyls under the lower FL concentrations. It was concluded that FL inhibits maize growth, and the intensity of the effect is positively correlated with the herbicide concentration. The phenomenon was related to changes in content of pigments, polyamines and activity of studied enzymes. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.