Effect of some triazole fungicides on intracellular pH and on cell membrane permeabilità in leaves of Elodea densa (Planch) Casp*

Recent data obtained in this laboratory have shown that a number of triazole fungicides induce in leaves of barley and Elodea densa an early release of solutes and an inhibition of H+ extrusion. This paper deals with the early effects of two triazoles, penconazole and flusilazol, on intracellular pH and plasmamembrane permeability in Elodea densa leaves. Different effects were found at low (0.1-0.15 mM) or at high (0.3-0.5 mM) triazole concentrations. At the low concentrations the triazoles induced a marked intracellular acidification (corresponding to an acidification of both the cytosol and the vacuole) as evaluated by the weak acid and weak base distribution method. For higher triazole concentrations (0.3-0.5 mM) the intracellular pH became very close to that of the external medium (pH 5.5), and cytosolic and vacuolar pH measurements became unreliable. Triazoles at concentrations higher than 0.1-0.15 mM induced an early and very marked increase in net efflux of K+ and Cl-. At these 'toxic' concentrations the sorbitol-permeable space (apparent free space) was increased from about 20% to more than 90%. These results suggest that triazoles at low 'sub-toxic' concentrations inhibit some mechanism involved in the regulation of intracellular pH (possibly the plasmalemma proton pump), whilst at higher concentrations they induce a non-specific increase in passive permeability of the plasmamembrane.