title: Microencapsulation of seed-coating tebuconazole and its effects on physiology and biochemistry of maize seedlings.
abstract: Tebuconazole is a triazole systemic fungicide that is commonly used to treat fungal pathogens of crops, but at high doses can reduce seed germination. Seeds with microcapsulated tebuconazole were investigated to determine effects of this method on maize seedlings and the bioefficacy against maize head smut (Sphacelotheca reiliana). The ethyl cellulose (EC)-based microcapsules had encapsulation efficiency of 90.6%, and average size of 1.6 μm. A release kinetic study revealed that tebuconazole release from EC-based microcapsules fits the model (Mt/Mz=kt(n)+C). Glasshouse studies indicated that maize seedling emergence and growth were negatively affected in an exponential manner as predicted by model Y=A+B×e((-x/k)). However, microencapsulation could induce tebuconazole's growth promoting effects by increasing emergence, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, carotenoid and chlorophyll content. Phytohormone analysis indicated the beneficial effects of microencapsulated tebuconazole were due to the sustained release of tebuconazole that appeared to influence the balance of phytohormones in maize seedlings. Contrary to conventional tebuconazole, microencapsulated seed-coated tebuconazole can lead to slightly increased gibberellins (GA) level and disappearance of abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation in maize. In addition, microcapsule formulation of tebuconazole was found to provide better protection against maize head smut when compared to conventional formulation.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Daibin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100193, China; College of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130 Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Protection, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry, Baoding, 071000 Hebei, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: College of Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130 Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Zhenying
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: hzhyuan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Huizhu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000040:Abscisic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D002214:Capsules; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D004339:Drug Compounding; D005875:Gibberellins / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D005875:Gibberellins; D014230:Triazoles; D014867:Water; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002338:Carotenoids; C087114:tebuconazole; D000040:Abscisic Acid
keywords: Maize; Microcapsule; Plant growth regulating effect; Tebuconazole