The term "caline" in plant developmental biology.

In the 1930s, Frits Warmolt Went conducted a number of seminal studies on pea seedlings that had been germinated in the dark and assessed their growth when either the apical parts, cotyledons, or roots were cut off or grafted, to assess whether coplant growth factors assisted auxin in the development of these organs. Went assigned the term "calines" to all auxin-assisting substances, specifically rhizocaline, caulocaline, and phyllocaline in root, shoot (and axillary buds) and leaf development, respectively. Those experiments were based exclusively on growth assays, and no supplementary biochemical or physiological analyses were ever conducted, and additional proof was only provided by Went using pea or tomato. The lack of independent reproducibility by other groups, combined with the fact that the hormonal control of these developmental events in plants is now fairly well-studied event, even at the molecular level, suggests that these growth factors that Went observed 80 years ago either do not exist or are known by some other term in modern plant development. The terms related to "calines" should thus no longer be used in plant developmental biology.

Isolation of novel indole-3-acetic acid conjugates by immunoaffinity extraction.

An analytical protocol for the isolation and quantification of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and its amino acid conjugates was developed. IAA is an important phytohormone and formation of its conjugates plays a crucial role in regulating IAA levels in plants. The developed protocol combines a highly specific immunoaffinity extraction with a sensitive and selective LC-MS/MS analysis. By using internal standards for each of the studied compounds, IAA and seven amino acid conjugates were analyzed in quantities of fresh plant material as low as 30 mg. In seeds of Helleborus niger, physiological levels of these compounds were found to range from 7.5 nmol g(-1) fresh weight (IAA) to 0.44 pmol g(-1) fresh weight (conjugate with Ala). To our knowledge, the identification of IAA conjugates with Gly, Phe and Val from higher plants is reported here for the first time.

Regulatory oversight of biochemical pesticides by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: health effects considerations.

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) enables the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that pesticide use in commerce will not result in unreasonable adverse effects to humans and the environment. Currently, two classes of pesticides are recognized: conventional chemical pesticides and biological pesticides. The latter group is divided into biochemical and microbial pesticides. The recent resurgence of biochemical pesticides as effective pest control agents has increased the number of applications for experimental use permits and for product registration. The fundamental information and data necessary to evaluate such products by the Health Effects Division (HED) of OPP are discussed, as well as the criteria for the classification of a pesticide as a biochemical versus a conventional chemical pesticide. In accordance with the Agency's effort to encourage the development of pesticides less toxic to humans and the environment, the scientific basis for providing future regulatory relief and reduced data requirements for biochemical pesticides is discussed.

[Requirements for the toxicological testing of new pesticides and agents for controlling biological processes]. / Anforderungen an die toxikologische Prüfung neuer Pflanzenschutzmittel und Mittel zur Steuerung biologischer Prozesse.

Growing amounts of pesticides and plant growth regulators are being used in our time and call for action to ensure safety for man and farm animals. Toxicological rules and requirements are discussed with reference to the legal provisions in the USSR, USA, and FRG. Specifications for toxicological assessment of new preparations have been prepared in the GDR and Poland and are described. Particular emphasis is laid on studies into acute, subacute or subchronic, and chronic toxicity and delayed consequences. Conclusions are suggested and steps discussed to decide tolerances for food and feedstuffs.