Influence of the thiocarbamate herbicide EPTC and the safener dichlormid on acetate incorporation into membrane lipids of maize

The membrane lipid biosynthesis of maize (Zea mays L.) root and shoot was examined in the presence of the thiocarbamate herbicide EPTC and the safener dichlormid by injection of [1- 14 C]acetate into the stem of seedlings and subsequent analysis of lipid labelling. More than 4 % of total labelling was found in the roots. A short-term EPTC treatment starting at the time of [1- 14 C]acetate injection decreased the phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and the diacyldigalactosylglycerol (DGDG) biosynthesis of shoots while elevated the proportion of neutral lipids (NL). Contrary effects were detected in roots where PE and DGDG labellings were doubled but the rations of NL and diacylgalactosylglycerol were decreased by this herbicide