Effectiveness of Uniconazole(XE-1019) Treatment in Reducing Ozone Injury to Tomato Plant

To determine the efficacy of uniconzaole[(E)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethy 2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-penten-3-ol)](XE-1019) as a phytoprotectant against injury in tomato plants(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. 'Pink Glory'), plants were given a 50ml soil drench of uniconazole solution at concentrations of 0.001, 0,01, 0.1 and 0.2mg/pot thirteen days prior to fumigation. All four uniconazole concentrations were effective in providing protection against exposure(16h at 0.3 ppm). Uniconazole treatment above 0.001 mg/pot significantly reduced stem elongation, leaf enlargement, leaf area and fresh weight of plant, whereas increased chlorophyll concentration. Transpiration rate on a whole plant basis was reduced by uniconazole treatment and exposure. Uniconazole reduced ethylene production induced by injury but had little or no effect on defoliation of cotyledons and leaf epinasty. Activities of peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) were slightly increased by application of uniconazole. With increasing exposure time, increased POD activity but decreased SOD activity. The phytoprotective effects of uniconazole were diminished by applying gibberellin at ppm. These results suggest that the phytoprotective effects of uniconazole are related to its role of increasing activities of free radical scavengers such as POD and SOD, in addition to growth-retardation as an anti-gibberellin.