COMPARTMENTATION ANALYSIS OF PARAQUAT FLUXES IN MAIZE ROOTS AS A MEANS OF ESTIMATING THE RATE OF VACUOLAR ACCUMULATION AND TRANSLOCATION TO SHOOTS

Efflux analysis conducted after five loading periods of various lengths (2, 6, 12, 18, or 24 h) was used to investigate uptake, compartmentation, and translocation of [C-14]paraquat in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings. The time course for net paraquat uptake (paraquat concentration in uptake solution = 25 mum) into maize roots was linear (56.7 nmol g-1 root fresh weight h-1) for 24 h. Estimates of changes in paraquat content in the vacuole, cytoplasm, and cell wall after 2-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-h loading periods indicated that the cell wall saturated rapidly, whereas accumulation of paraquat into the vacuole increased linearly (1 2.4 nmol g-1 root fresh weight h-1) over 24 h. In contrast to vacuolar accumulation, cytoplasmic paraquat content appeared to approach saturation. The half-time for paraquat efflux from the cell wall (16.6 min +/-1.2 SD) and cytoplasm (58.8 min +/- 8.9 SD) remained relatively constant regardless of the length of the loading period, whereas the half-time for efflux from the vacuole was considerably longer and increased linearly with increased loading time (6.1-18.7 h). The time course for paraquat translocation to the shoot was linear within a 24-h exposure to radiolabeled herbicide, but translocation did not begin until 5 h after initiation of treatment. The experimental approach used in these experiments provides a valuable method for examining the movement of paraquat in maize seedlings. Results indicate that the herbicide slowly accumulates in the vacuole of root cells but is also translocated to the shoot.