Abstract
Recent reports, especially those of Russian scientists, have emphasized that application of stimulatory concentrations of naphthenates (Naps) induced greater and better growth and productivity of a number of species of plants. This stimulatory action of Naps has been found to result from seed soaking and spraying seeds or developing plants once or repeatedly. However, no systematic attempt has so far been made to investigate physiological and biochemical changes induced in a relative short period following immediately these treatments. A correlation of such changes with final improvements in growth and yield may provide a better understanding of the mechanism of action of Naps It was therefore essential and significant to investigate these aspects. Seeds of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum var. Bonny Best) were germinated in wooden flats containing sterilized soil and were transplanted when 10 days old to plastic pots of 6 inche diameter containing sterilized soil. The plants were grown in a growth room. In separate experiments, potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves when plants were 2, 3, and 4 weeks old. Measurements of vegetative growth, based on fresh and dry weights of plant tops, indicated that maximum stimulation was induced by the 5,000 ppm KNap solution applied to plants when 3 weeks old. It was then decided to investigate the biochemical and physiological responses of the tomato plants to 5,000 ppm KNap when treated at the age of 3 weeks. Determinations of pigment content, intensities of photosynthesis and respiration, activity of enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism, such as nitrate reductase (NRase) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (transaminase), and of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, such as succinic dehydrogenase, phosphorylase, and phosphoglyceryl kinase were made three times at 2-week intervals, beginning 2 weeks after the spraying. Number and fresh weight of tomato fruits, quality of tomato fruits in terms of sugars, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid were also investigated at scheduled intervals. Results indicated the following: (1) In the treated plants, the content of the pigments chlorophyll a and b, and especially carotenoid, in the leaf blades was higher than in control plants, (2) Measurements made with intact plants using an infrared CO₂ analyzer revealed increases in intensities of photosynthesis and respiration of the aerial portions 4 weeks after treatment but the opposite was true 2 weeks after treatment, (3) Under the influence of KNap, of the 5 enzymes examined only phosphorylase activity was found to be stimulated at all three observation times. Transaminase activity was greater 6 weeks after treatment. Activities of succinic dehydrogenase, NRase, and phosphoglyceryl kinase were all reduced by treatments, (4) In a subsequent experiment, leaf blades of plants treated when 2 weeks old were analyzed for succinic dehydrogenase activity 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 days after spraying. The effect on succinic dehydrogenase activity fluctuated with the age of the plant. Parallel changes in the protein content of the enzyme extract could not be detected, (5) Tomato fruit yield, based on number and fresh weight, was decreased by 2,500 ppm KNap treatment but increased by 5,000 ppm KNap. In addition, 5,000 ppm KNap-treated plants were more resistant to blossom-end rot and showed better and quicker recovery when the deficiency disease was treated with CaCl₂. Earlier maturity was found in 5,000 ppm KNap-treated plants, (6) The mature tomato fruits from 5,000 ppm KNap-treated plants contained larger amounts of sugars (reducing sugar and sucrose) than the controls, and the sugars in mature tomato fruits were lost at a lower rate during the storage period. The treatment resulted in decreased titratable acid and ascorbic acid content. It afforded no protection against loss of titratable acid and ascorbic acid during storage.
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Claims 17
Claim · model-written summary
KNap-treated tomato leaves had higher chlorophyll a and b and carotenoid content than control plants.
- Taxon
- tomato
Solanum lycopersicume0 - Organ / stage
- leaf bladese1
- Treatment
- potassium naphthenate (KNap)e0
- Outcome
- the content of the pigmentse1
- Direction
- highere1
- Comparator
- control plantse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves”
e1“the content of the pigments chlorophyll a and b, and especially carotenoid, in the leaf blades was higher than in control plants”
Claim · model-written summary
KNap increased intensities of photosynthesis and respiration of the aerial parts 4 weeks after treatment.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Organ / stage
- aerial portionse2
- Treatment
- potassium naphthenate (KNap)e0
- Outcome
- intensities of photosynthesis and respiratione2
- Direction
- increasese2
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves”
e2“revealed increases in intensities of photosynthesis and respiration of the aerial portions 4 weeks after treatment”
Claim · model-written summary
KNap decreased intensities of photosynthesis and respiration 2 weeks after treatment.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- potassium naphthenate (KNap)e0
- Outcome
- intensities of photosynthesis and respiratione2
- Direction
- decreaseinferrede3
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves”
e2“revealed increases in intensities of photosynthesis and respiration of the aerial portions 4 weeks after treatment”
e3“but the opposite was true 2 weeks after treatment”
Claim · model-written summary
KNap stimulated phosphorylase activity at all three observation times.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- potassium naphthenate (KNap)e0
- Outcome
- phosphorylase activitye4
- Direction
- stimulatede4
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves”
e4“only phosphorylase activity was found to be stimulated at all three observation times”
Claim · model-written summary
KNap increased transaminase activity 6 weeks after treatment.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- potassium naphthenate (KNap)e0
- Outcome
- Transaminase activitye5
- Direction
- greatere5
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves”
e5“Transaminase activity was greater 6 weeks after treatment”
Claim · model-written summary
KNap reduced activities of succinic dehydrogenase, NRase and phosphoglyceryl kinase.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- potassium naphthenate (KNap)e0
- Outcome
- Activities of succinic dehydrogenase, NRase, and phosphoglyceryl kinasee6
- Direction
- reducede6
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves”
e6“Activities of succinic dehydrogenase, NRase, and phosphoglyceryl kinase were all reduced by treatments”
Claim · model-written summary
The effect of KNap on succinic dehydrogenase activity fluctuated with plant age.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- potassium naphthenate (KNap)e0
- Outcome
- succinic dehydrogenase activitye7
- Direction
- fluctuatede7
- Qualifier
- with the age of the plante7
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves”
e7“The effect on succinic dehydrogenase activity fluctuated with the age of the plant”
Claim · model-written summary
KNap caused no parallel change in the protein content of the succinic dehydrogenase enzyme extract.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- potassium naphthenate (KNap)e0
- Outcome
- the protein content of the enzyme extracte1
- Direction
- no_changeinferrede1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves”
e1“Parallel changes in the protein content of the enzyme extract could not be detected”
Claim · model-written summary
The 2,500 ppm KNap treatment decreased tomato fruit yield by number and fresh weight.
- Taxon
- TomatoSolanum lycopersicume1
- Treatment
- 2,500 ppm KNap treatmente1
- Outcome
- Tomato fruit yielde1
- Direction
- decreasede1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Tomato fruit yield, based on number and fresh weight, was decreased by 2,500 ppm KNap treatment”
Claim · model-written summary
The 5,000 ppm KNap treatment increased tomato fruit yield by number and fresh weight.
- Taxon
- TomatoSolanum lycopersicume1
- Treatment
- 5,000 ppm KNape2
- Outcome
- Tomato fruit yielde1
- Direction
- increasede2
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Tomato fruit yield, based on number and fresh weight, was decreased by 2,500 ppm KNap treatment”
e2“but increased by 5,000 ppm KNap”
Claim · model-written summary
5,000 ppm KNap-treated tomato plants were more resistant to blossom-end rot.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- 5,000 ppm KNape1
- Outcome
- blossom-end rote1
- Direction
- more resistante1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves”
e1“5,000 ppm KNap-treated plants were more resistant to blossom-end rot”
Claim · model-written summary
5,000 ppm KNap-treated plants showed better and quicker recovery from the deficiency when treated with CaCl2.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- CaCl₂e1
- Outcome
- recoverye1
- Direction
- better and quickere1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves”
e1“5,000 ppm KNap-treated plants were more resistant to blossom-end rot and showed better and quicker recovery when the deficiency disease was treated with CaCl₂”
Claim · model-written summary
Earlier maturity was found in 5,000 ppm KNap-treated tomato plants.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- 5,000 ppm KNape1
- Outcome
- maturitye1
- Direction
- Earliere1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves”
e1“Earlier maturity was found in 5,000 ppm KNap-treated plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Mature fruits from 5,000 ppm KNap-treated plants contained larger amounts of sugars than controls.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume1
- Treatment
- 5,000 ppm KNape1
- Outcome
- sugarse1
- Direction
- larger amountse1
- Comparator
- the controlse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“The mature tomato fruits from 5,000 ppm KNap-treated plants contained larger amounts of sugars (reducing sugar and sucrose) than the controls”
Claim · model-written summary
Sugars in mature tomato fruits from KNap-treated plants were lost at a lower rate during storage.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- potassium naphthenate (KNap)e0
- Outcome
- the sugars in mature tomato fruitse1
- Direction
- lower ratee1
- Qualifier
- during the storage periode1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves”
e1“the sugars in mature tomato fruits were lost at a lower rate during the storage period”
Claim · model-written summary
KNap decreased titratable acid and ascorbic acid content in tomato fruit.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- potassium naphthenate (KNap)e0
- Outcome
- titratable acid and ascorbic acid contente1
- Direction
- decreasede1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves”
e1“The treatment resulted in decreased titratable acid and ascorbic acid content”
Claim · model-written summary
KNap gave no protection against storage loss of titratable acid and ascorbic acid.
- Taxon
- tomatoSolanum lycopersicume0
- Treatment
- potassium naphthenate (KNap)e0
- Outcome
- loss of titratable acid and ascorbic acid during storagee1
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“potassium naphthenate (KNap) aqueous solutions, 2,500 ppm and 5,000 ppm, were sprayed onto tomato leaves”
e1“It afforded no protection against loss of titratable acid and ascorbic acid during storage”
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