Relationships between lipophilicity and the distribution of non‐ionised chemicals in barley shoots following uptake by the roots

Abstract

Abstract Determinations were made of the distribution of two series of non‐ionised chemicals, O ‐methylcarbamoyloximes and substituted phenylureas, in barley shoots, following uptake by the roots from solution. The concentrations in basal and central shoot sections became constant after 24 to 48 h for all but the most lipophilic chemical studied, and were then greatest for the more lipophilic chemicals. Amounts in the leaves generally increased up to 72 or 96 h, when degradation balanced translocation. The accumulation of chemical in the lower section of shoots can be ascribed to a partitioning process similar to that in roots, the chemical being partitioned between the shoot and the xylem transpiration stream; this uptake could be estimated from the octan‐1‐01/water distribution coefficients, and was predicted to be greatest for compounds for which log K ow =4. 5.