EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLS, GLYCOLS AND MONODISPERSE ETHOXYLATED ALCOHOLS ON MOBILITY OF 2,4-D IN ISOLATED PLANT CUTICLES

Effects of n-alcohols, ethoxylated alcohols and glycols on mobility of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) in cuticular membranes (CM) isolated from bitter orange (Citrus aurantium L.) leaves were studied. 1-Heptanol, 1-octanol and 1-nonanol had the highest effects, as they increased solute (2,4-D) mobility by 25- to 30-fold. Increasing the number of carbon atoms in the alcohols decreased their effectiveness. Ethoxylation of alcohols did not increase 2,4-D mobility and effectiveness decreased with increasing ethoxylation. Free glycols had no effect on solute mobility in isolated cuticles. The results show that ethoxylation is not required for increasing solute mobility in cuticles. It is suggested that alcohols and ethoxylated alcohols are sorbed in cuticular waxes and plasticize them. The data show that alcohols and ethoxylated alcohols having between seven and ten carbon atoms are powerful accelerator adjuvants, as long as the degree of ethoxylation is not too high. Free short-chain alcohols synthesized by leaves may act as endogenous plasticizers and modulate permeabilities of cuticles, depending on environmental and growing conditions.