Effect of light environment on the activity and behaviour of diquat and paraquat in plants

Abstract

AbstractThe importance of controlling the light environment of experiments involving diquat and paraquat is shown in experiments where activity is markedly dependent on the light quality and intensity before treatment and on the time of day of treatment.Activity and uptake are not directly related since treatments after low light intensities give increased activity associated with reduced uptake; following afternoon treatments, reduced activity is associated with increased uptake. Uptake increased when plants were darkened after treatment but the increase was not directly related to its duration, because after a time, uptake decreased. Three possible explanations for this decrease are considered: diquat exudation from the leaves, downward movement into the roots, and the adsorption of diquat in plant tissue. Evidence did not support exudation from leaves or downward movement into the roots.