State-1 state-2 transition influenced by herbicides which modify fatty acid composition in leaves

Abstract

Interactions of herbicides with photosynthetic membranes are still not solved in many respects. Three different modes of action have been reported for pyridazinone herbicides : inhibition of (1) photosynthetic electron transport (2) carotenoid biosynthesis and (3) fatty acid desaturation in the galactolipid fraction of chloroplasts. The pyridazinone BASF 13-338 (=SAN 9785) used in our investigations has no effect on pigmentsynthesis and photosynthetic activity but affects fatty acid desaturation in leaves. Cerulenin an antibiotic from the fungus Cephalosporium caerulens inhibits fatty acid synthesis generally. Both herbicides act indirectly on photosynthesis because they alter the mobility of photosynthetic units in the membrane.