The presence of chlorimuron ethyl and metsulfuron methyl in two soils was determined by a modified petri dish bioassay. Pregerminated seeds of maize and sunflower were placed in petri dishes containing 85 to 100 g of treated soil. Radicle root lengths were measured after 24 h. Chlorimuron had no effect on maize on the Balcarce soil, however 0.007 microg g(-1) decreased sunflower root length. Chlorimuron decreased maize and sunflower root length regardless application dose on the San Cayetano soil. Metsulfuron decreased maize root length at 0.04 microg g(-1) and sunflower at 0.021 microg g(-1) on the Balcarce soil. On the San Cayetano soil metsulfuron at 0.001 microg g(-1) decreased maize and sunflower root length. The phytotoxicity of chlorimuron and metsulfuron changed according to soil type and dose. Maize and sunflower were 1.3-1.5 and 1.3-1.8 times respectively more sensitive to chlorimuron on the San Cayetano soil than on the Balcarce soil. In the case of metsulfuron, maize was similarly sensitive on both soils but sunflower was 1.7-2.0 times more sensitive on the San Cayetano soil than on the Balcarce soil. Phytotoxicity increased as organic matter (OM) content decreased and/or when the soil pH and concentration increased.

Lindane and heptachlor persistences were studied in a composite loam soil obtained from Balcarce, Argentina. Soil treated with either pesticide was distributed in drilled pots inserted into slightly larger ones, where percolating water could be collected after rainfall. Pots were placed at the field and analysed every five weeks by gas chromatography, upto a total of fifty five weeks. Lindane half-lives were 9.4 and 8.6 weeks for 2.0 and 4.0 kg active ingredient/ha applied to the soil, respectively. A total loss of 96.5% of the initial single lindane dose disappeared after fifty-five weeks. One the contrary, 73.9% of extractable heptachlor remained in the soil at the end of the study. Both pesticides were absent in water percolating through the soil, suggesting a strong adsorption by soil particles.

Atrazine doses of 0.58, 1.16 and 2.32 mu g g(-1) dry soil weight were applied to pots containing soils from sites in Balcarce, Gonzalez Chaves and San Cayetano (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). Both residual phytotoxicity and chemical persistence at 45, 100 and 160 days after treatment (DAT) were studied by an oat bioassay and gas chromatography. Residual phytotoxicity values obtained at all times and up to a maximum of 223 DAT followed the order San Cayetano > Balcarce > Gonzalez Chaves. A highly negative (P < 0.01) correlation between the percentage of atrazine mass chemically recovered and its residual phytotoxicity at every comparable sampling time, for doses ranging from 1.16 mu g g(-1) DSW to 2.32 mu g g(-1) DSW, was obtained. Residual phytotoxicity and chemical persistence in relation to physicochemical properties of soils, is discussed.

Atrazine persistence in soils of the southeast of Buenos Aires Province, was studied by an oat bioassay. Atrazine doses of 0.58, 1.16, and 2.32 mg.g-1 dry soil weight (DSW) were applied to pots containing soils from Balcaree, A. Gonzáles Chaves and San Cayetano sites, whose organic matter (OM) content of soils were 5.70, 5.15, and 3,84%, respectively. Avena sativa cv. Millauquén plants were grownth in the pots under greenhouse conditions at different times after atrazine application. Shoots were evenly cut above the soil and dry weight determined as a measure of plant growth. Plants grown in non-sprayed soil were used as controls. Relative dry weight (RDW) of shoots was calculated as percentage of control. Atrazine phytotoxicity was expressed in terms of 50 % plant growth reduction (GR50) in the soils under study. Herbicide persistence was expressed in terms of days after treatment (DAT) needed for the plant to achieve 80% of RDW. Atrazine GR50 values of 0.30, 0.64, and 0.90 mg.g-1 DSW in soils from San Cayetano, Balcare and A.G. Chaves, were respectively obtained at 42 DAT. Herbicide persistences at the recommended dose (1.16 mg.g-1) were 100, 143, and 221 DAT for A.G. Chaves, Balcarce and San Cayetano soils, respectively. San Cayetano soil had both the lowest OM content and cation exchange capacity (CEC), as well as the highest pH, of all the soil studied here. These results were consistent with both the lowest GR50 and the highest persistence abtained for atrazine in this soil.

Several aspects of lipid composition and32P incorporation were studied during early embryogenesis of the toad,Bufo arenarum, Hensel. The surveyed stages ranged from unfertilized oocyte to neural tube formation. The fatty acid distribution in polar and neutral lipids, as well as in acetone eluate from Unisil columns was similar in unfertilized oocyte and late blastula stage. There was no significant effect of cell cleavage on the fatty acid composition of these lipid fractions. Neutral lipids represent ca. 67% of the total lipids. The main components of the phospholipids were phosphatides of choline and ethanolamine. The total lipid and phospholipid content does not change through the studied stage of neurula. However a large increment in the phospholipid's specific radioactivity occurs when32P is injected along with the hormone to induce ovulation. It is suggested that this may reflect changes in turnover rates rather than net biosynthesis. Since a large amount of cell membranes is being formed during the early development and because the level of phospholipids remains constant, an explanation is offered regarding membranogenesis. Active phospholipid biosynthesis may take place during oogenesis. These lipids may be stored in the yolk platelet, and fertilization may regulate the functioning of a transport mechanism to corresponding membrane sites. The increased incorporation of32P may reflect changes in the activity of new membranes.

AbstractDuring the early developmental stages of the toad, Bufo arenarum, Hensel. up to the stage of gill circulation (150 hr of development at 20–25°C) the total phospholipids content as well as that of phosphoglycerides of choline and of ethanolamine were found unchanged. The subfraction of both phosphoglycerides were separated according to the number of double bonds on silver‐ion chromatography and were also found to be unchanged up to the tail bud stage. The distribution of non‐polar side chains in the subfractions varied in both phosphoglycerides showing a structural heterogeneity. In the phosphatidylethanolamines predominate the polyenoic containing subfractions.In contrast with the constant concentration of polar lipids, during early embryogenesis a steady increase in 32P incorporation into phospholipids takes place when oocytes labeled during oogenesis are used. These changes were also correlated with the DNA content up to gill circulation stage.It is proposed that most of the nascent membrane polar lipids during early embryogenesis may be derived from a storage site through an active and specific intracellular redistribution process. At the arrival of the polar lipid to the nascent membrane a change in their covalent structure by introduction of a phosphorylbase from a highly labeled pool may explain the raise in specific activity. This change may be necessary to make possible the assembly of the lipid into the membrane structure.