Lipid Metabolism in Grain Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Treated with Alachlor plus Flurazole

Lipid metabolism and other biochemical responses to alachlor [2-chloro-2’,6’-dimethyl-N-(methoxymethyl) acetanilide] and the protectant flurazole [2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-5-thiazolecarboxylic acid, (phenylmethyl ester)] in germinated grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. ‘MFA GS 301’] were studied. Treatments included flurazole, applied to grain sorghum seed at 2.5 g ai/kg, alachlor at 8.2 × 10−6 M, and alachlor plus flurazole at these rates. Treatments did not alter total lipid synthesis or fatty acid composition. Seeds that germinated for 48 h in media containing alachlor or alachlor plus flurazole had a greater triglyceride:phospholipid ratio than those treated with flurazole or the control seeds, indicating that alachlor plus flurazole retarded catabolism of storage lipid. Oxygen consumption of seeds was reduced after the herbicide plus protectant treatment. Oxidation of 14C-pyruvate to CO2 was inhibited by alachlor and alachlor plus flurazole treatments, but not by flurazole alone.