Walter Kunz

Induced Disease Resistance in Plants by Chemicals

Plants can be induced locally and systemically to become more resistant to diseases through various biotic or abiotic stresses. The biological inducers include necrotizing pathogens, non- pathogens or root colonizing bacteria. Through at network of signal pathways they induce resistance spectra and marker proteins that are characteristic for the different plant species and activation systems. The best characterized signal pathway for systemically induced resistance is SAR (systemic acquired resistance) that is activated by localized infections with necrotizing pathogens. It is characterized by protection against a broad range of pathogens, by a set of induced proteins and by its dependence on salicylic acid (SA) Various chemicals have been discovered that seem to act at various points in these defense activating networks and mimic all or parts of the biological activation of resistance. Of these, only few have reached commercialization. The best- studied resistance activator is acibenzolar-5-methyl (BION). At low rates it activates resistance in many crops against a broad spectrum of diseases, including fungi, bacteria and viruses. In monocots, activated resistance by BION typically is very long lasting, while the lasting effect is less pronounced in dicots. BION is translocated systemically in plants and can take the place of SA in the natural SAR signal pathway, inducing the same spectrum of resistance and the same set of molecular markers. Probenazole (ORYZEMATE) is used mainly on rice against rice blast and bacterial leaf blight. Its mode of action is not well understood partly because biological systems of systemically induced resistance are not well defined in rice. Treated plants clearly respond faster and in a resistant manner to infections by the two pathogens. Other compounds like beta-aminobutyric acid as wdl as extracts from plants and microorganisms have also been described as resistance inducers. For most of these, neither the mode of action nor reliable pre-challenge markers are known and still other pathways for resistance activation are suspected. Resistance inducing chemicals that are able to induce broad disease resistance offer an additional option for the farmer to complement genetic disease resistance and the use of fungicides. If integrated properly in plant health management programs, they can prolong the useful life of both the resistance genes and the fungicides presently used.

ORGANISCHE PHOSPHORVERBINDUNGEN 80 HERSTELLUNG VON TRIAZOLYLMETHYL-PHOSPHONATEN UND VON TRIAZOLYL-METHYLPHOSPHONIUMSALZEN UND DEREN VERWENDUNG IN DER WITTIG-HORNER REAKTION

Abstract Attempts to prepare 1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethylphosphonates (4 and 5) by a Mannichtype reaction or by transesterification of 1-hydroxymethyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol 1 with tertiary phosphites failed. On the other hand 4 and 5 are obtained by a Michaelis-Becker reaction from 1-chloromethyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol 3 and sodium phosphites in high yield. The Michaelis-Arbuzov reaction is less suited for the preparation of 4 and 5. 3 is obtained in good yield as a water clear liquid, b.p. 52–54°C/0.2 torr, from the interaction of 1 with thionyl chloride followed by treatment with a base. On standing at 0° or 20°C it decomposes within hours and yields the unsymmetrical methylen-bis(triazol) 3a in addition to other products. However an acetonitrile solution of 3 is stable for months. Heating this solution with tertiary phosphines gives triazolylsubstituted phosphoniumsalts 6 to 8. The Wittig-Horner reaction with 4 to 6 gives the olefinically substituted triazols 9–12 as a Z/E mixture in high yield. Alkylation of 4 wi...

THE FUNGICIDAL ACTIVITY OF ACYL ANILINES

Abstract Out of the vast number of acyl anilines, generally known as herbicides until 1973, we found certain representatives, the acylalanines, with high fungicidal activity against Oomycetes, especially of the order Peronosporales. Two commercial products have been developed so far. The biological activities depend on substitution patterns in the acyl, aryl, and alkyl moiety of the acylalanine molecule. Structure-activity correlations using Hansch equations have been established. Acylalanines are racemates which have been resolved into their optical antipodes. The dependence of biological activity upon the optical configuration has been studied.

Preparation of Triazolylmethylphosphonates and of Triazolyl-Methylphosphoniumsalts and their Application in the Wittig-Horner Reaction

Abstract The preparation of triazolylmethylphosphonates and of triazolylmethylphosphoniumsalts and their application in the Wittig-Horner reaction is reported.