Work

Spatial analysis of uptake and accumulation of metalaxyl, spirotetramat, and spirotetramat-enol in maize at the micrometer scale using HPLC-HRMS and MALDI-MSI

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Plant protection products (PPPs) are applied on a global scale in vast quantities, which results in elevated concentrations of active ingredients in the soil pore water. Depending on their fate, these PPPs have the potential to pose a threat to the environment and surrounding ecosystems. PPPs that are dissolved in the soil pore water are available for uptake by crop roots, which can lead to bioaccumulation in different plant parts, depending on the characteristics of the PPPs used. The quantity of the active ingredients absorbed and the fate of these substances within the plant are contingent upon the specific uptake routes. We exposed young maize plants to metalaxyl and spirotetramat or its metabolite spirotetramat-enol in a hydroponic setup. We investigated the root uptake and subsequent translocation to shoots via Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry. Furthermore, MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) was employed to elucidate the accumulation of metalaxyl and spirotetramat in specific organs of maize on a µm-scale. This study demonstrates that both PPPs are readily taken up via the roots of maize plants yet differ significantly in their distribution. MALDI-MSI is particularly important to get a better mechanistic understanding. Thus, metalaxyl accumulates in the xylem and is predominantly found in the leaves whereas spirotetramat accumulates in the root epidermis. These new insights are helpful for the environmental impact assessment and MALDI-MSI an exciting new aspect to consider in environmental analysis. • HPLC-HRMS and MALDI-MSI reveal pesticide mobility and transport inside maize. • Pesticide distribution images elucidate uptake and transport mechanism in plants. • SPI is highly mobile, but converts into anionic SPI-E, which accumulates in roots. • Imaging analysis reveals the transport pathway of a pesticide through xylem or phloem.

Source: Journal of Hazardous Materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137610

Authors: Daniel Skoczowsky, Till Bebenroth, Michael Kubicki, Sebastian Zühlke

Institutions: TU Dortmund University, Bayer (Germany)

Language: English

Topic: Pesticide Residue Analysis and Safety

Subfield: Food Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,340