Maria Chrysayi-Tokousbalides

Metabolomics in pesticide research and development: review and future perspectives

The emerge of metabolomics within functional genomics has provided a new dimension in the study of biological systems. In regards to the study of agroecosystems, metabolomics enables monitoring of metabolic changes in association with biotic or abiotic agents such as agrochemicals. Focusing on crop protection chemicals, a great effort has been given towards the development of crop protection agents safer for consumers and the environment and more efficient than the existing ones. Within this framework, metabolomics has so far been a valuable tool for high-throughput screening of bioactive substances in order to discover those with high selectivity, unique modes-of-action, and acceptable eco-toxicological/toxicological profiles. Here, applications of metabolomics in the investigation of the modes-of-action and ecotoxicological–toxicological risk assessment of bioactive compounds, mining of biological systems for the discovery of bioactive metabolites, and the risk assessment of genetic modified crops are discussed.

Herbicidal potential of pyrenophorol isolated from a Drechslera avenae pathotype

A pathotype of Drechslera avenae (Eidam) Scharif exhibited host-specificity, being pathogenic to Avena sterilis L but not to a number of related or unrelated species tested. In culture, the fungus produces a metabolite which was identified as the macrodiolide pyrenophorol (5,13-dihydroxy-8,16-dimethyl-1,9-dioxa-cyclohexadeca-3,11-diene-2,10-dione). This compound at a concentration of 320 µM was phytotoxic to A sterilis and considerably less so to Avena fatua L. The phytotoxicity was expressed as leaf necrosis on seedling cuttings partially immersed in pyrenophorol solution and as ‘green islands’ on detached leaves on which droplets of the solution were placed. Seed germination and seedling growth of A sterilis were not affected. Pyrenophorol at concentrations up to 640 µM did not cause any symptoms of phytotoxicity to a number of other monocotyledons or dicotyledons tested, with the exception of Lycopersicon esculentum Miller on which leaf necrosis was observed after application of the substance through the vascular system to seedling cuttings. These findings are discussed in relation to the exploitation of such compounds of natural origin as wild oat herbicides. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry

Lemna minor L. as a model organism for ecotoxicological studies performing 1H NMR fingerprinting

A validated method applying (1)H NMR fingerprinting for the study of metabolic changes caused in Lemna minor L. by various phytotoxic substances is presented. (1)H NMR spectra of crude extracts from untreated and treated colonies with the herbicides glyphosate, mesotrione, norflurazon, paraquat and the phytotoxin pyrenophorol were subjected to multivariate analyses for detecting differences between groups of treatments. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were carried out in order to discriminate and classify treatments according to the observed changes in the metabolome of the plant. Although the compounds at the concentrations used did not cause macroscopically observable symptoms of phytotoxicity, characteristic metabolic changes were detectable by analyzing (1)H NMR spectra. Analyses results revealed that metabonomics applying (1)H NMR fingerprinting is a potential method for the investigation of toxicological effects of xenobiotics on L. minor, and possibly on other duckweed species, helping in the understanding of such interactions.

Residue Evaluation of Famoxadone and Trifloxystrobin in Cultivated Mushrooms

Dissipation of the fungicides famoxadone and trifloxystrobin in basidiocarps of Agaricus bisporus was studied in mushroom growing rooms. The mushroom samples taken at all three consecutive production flushes following single or split applications of the fungicides were extracted with solvents and the residues were determined by using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD). Recoveries from the fortified control samples ranged from 87 to 105%. Following drench applications at 0.1–1 g/m2 of culture bed area, the highest famoxadone residue determined in basidiocarps was 0.1447 mg/kg. Analysis of trifloxystrobin revealed a quantitative relationship between the application rate (0.8–1.8 g/m2) and the residue levels of both the parent compound and its acid metabolite. The maximal combined residues of trifloxystrobin and its metabolite were 0.1313 mg/kg. Short- and long-term dietary risk assessment for both fungicides was carried out using consumption data from World Health Organization and the UK Pesticide Safety Directorates Ten Consumer Model. The potential acute and chronic residue intakes via mushroom consumption were below toxicologically significant indicators.