title: Evidence for surfactant solubilization of plant epicuticular wax.
abstract: The solubilization of isolated, reconstituted tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruit and broccoli (Brassica oleracaea var. botrytis L.) leaf epicuticular waxes (ECW) by nonionic octylphenoxypolyethoxy ethanol surfactant (Triton X-100) was demonstrated in a model system by TLC and fluorescence analysis using pyrene as a fluorescent probe. ECW was solubilized at or above the surfactant critical micelle concentration; solubilization increased with an increase in micelle concentration. As shown by the fluorescence quenching of pyrene, surfactant solubilization of the ECW increased rapidly for the first 12 h, then approached a plateau, increased linearly with an increase in temperature (22--32 degrees C), and decreased linearly with the log of the polyoxyethylene chain length (range 5--40 oxyethylenes). These data are discussed in relation to surfactant effects on phytotoxicity and performance of foliar spray application of agrochemicals.
authors: Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Tamura
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Knoche
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Bukovac
mesh_terms: D001937:Brassica / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005453:Fluorescence; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008823:Micelles; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017830:Octoxynol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014885:Waxes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008823:Micelles; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014885:Waxes; D017830:Octoxynol