Uptake of Butachlor by Rice Seedlings and Its Phytotoxic Action to the Physiological Activities

To clarify the mode of uptake of butachlor (2-chloro-2', 6'-diethyl-N-(butoxymethyl) acetanilide) by rice seedlings, its phytotoxic action to growth and physiological activities, studies were conducted with rice seedlings, at the 6th or 7th leaf-stage, which were treated with nutrient solution containing butachlor 0, 1.8, 3.6, 7.2, 10.8 or 14.4 ppm for 1, 2 or 4 days, in other case, the solutions were thereafter renewed with the untreated nutrient solution for further growth. Uptake of butachlor by rice seedlings increased linearly with increase of its concentration and duration of uptake. Butachlor inhibited root growth more than shoot growth, furthermore, the inhibitory effect on the shoot growth was greater in height than in weight or leafing rate. After 4 day-treatment, the rates of shoot growth in weight were delayed for 4 days. Butachlor inhibited water uptake rapidly and linearly with increase of its external concentration. The reduced uptake of water was followed by slow increase in the stomatal resistance of leaves. Upon completion of butachlor treatment, rate of water uptake was recovered rapidly, but the stomatal resistance with lag in time. Butachlor did not affect the uptake of cation such as ammonium, potassium and calcium, but inhibited substantially uptake of nitrate in proportion to its concentration. Especially, butachlor did not affect synthesis and degradation of nitrate reductase. In addition, butachlor has shown much greater binding to the lipidic substances from rice roots than the proteinous material. The primary mechanism of phytotoxic action of butachlor does not seem to be its effect on the protein synthesis, but great affinity to membranes. The inhibition of water uptake, and its subsequent closure of stomates is thought very important for reduced growth under mild phytotoxicity.