Semi‐volatile organic compounds at the leaf/atmosphere interface: numerical simulation of dispersal and foliar uptake

• Published in: Journal of experimental botany 2002-08, Vol.53 (375), p.1815-1823
• Main Authors: Riederer, Markus, Daiß, Andreas, Gilbert, Norbert, Köhle, Harald
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Air masses; Algorithms; Atmosphere - chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Boundary layers; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry, Physical; Computer Simulation; Convection; Diffusion - drug effects; Economic plant physiology; fluid mechanics; Foliar uptake; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; fungicides; Fungicides, Industrial - chemistry; Fungicides, Industrial - pharmacology; General aspects, methods; Generalities and techniques; hormones; Key words: Floral scents; Methacrylates; Modeling; Models, Biological; Morpholines - chemistry; Morpholines - pharmacology; Phenylacetates - chemistry; Phenylacetates - pharmacology; pheromones; plant cuticle; Plant Epidermis - chemistry; Plant Epidermis - drug effects; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Leaves - drug effects; Plant physiology and development; Plants; Plants and the Environment; Simulations; Stomata; Strobilurins; uptake; Vapor pressure; volatiles; Volatilization; Waxes; Waxes - chemistry
• ISSN: 0022-0957; 1460-2431; 1460-2431
• DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erf020

The behaviour of (semi‐)volatile organic compounds at the interface between the leaf surface and the atmosphere was investigated by finite‐element numerical simulation. Three model systems with increasing complexity and closeness to the real situation were studied. The three‐dimensional model systems were translated into appropriate grid structures and diffusive and convective transport in the leaf/atmosphere interface was simulated. Fenpropimorph (cis‐4‐[3‐(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐2‐methylpropyl]‐2,6‐dimethylmorpholine) and Kresoxim‐methyl ((E)‐methyl‐2‐methoxyimino‐2‐[2‐(o‐tolyloxy‐methyl)phenyl] acetate) were used as model compounds. The simulation showed that under still and convective conditions the vapours emitted by a point source rapidly form stationary envelopes around the leaves. Vapour concentrations within these unstirred layers depend on the vapour pressure of the compound in question and on its affinity to the lipoid surface layers of the leaf (cuticular waxes, cutin). The rules deduced from the numerical simulation of organic vapour behaviour in the leaf/atmosphere interface are expected to help in assessing how (semi‐)volatile plant products (e.g. hormones, pheromones, secondary metabolites) and xenobiotics (e.g. pesticides, pollutants) perform on plant surfaces.