The side-effect of certain organophosphorus insecticides on some biochemical aspects of cabbage plants was studied. At growth period of 2 months, the field-grown plants were treated with the pesticides malathion, pirimiphos-methyl and prothiofos. The investigated insecticides were used at the recom-mended doses and sprays were repeated three times at intervals of 1 month. After each spray, rando-mized samples were taken after 0, 1 and 2 weeks of application and biochemically analyzed. The ob-tained results could be summarized as follows: Chlorophyll analysis showed no significant variation after the first application. While continuous reduction was recorded after the second and third treatment. Sugars and carbohydrate contents were depleted in the treated cabbage leaves after the consequent application with the studied pesticidal chemicals. Malathion induced the maximum decline followed by prothiofos and pirimiphos-methyl. Free amino acids exhibited different responses as far as the individual impact of the used chemicals was considered. Total proteins content showed an increase after the first application in response to both malathion and prothiofos. However, all the used pesticides decreased protein contents of the treated cabbage leaves after the second and third application. Elemental analysis revealed that N was declined after the second and third spray in particular as a Function of the sprayed materials. On the other hand, P content was enhanced in the treated cabbage leaves in response to all the studied pesticides. K recorded no fixed trend after the different application with respect to the influence of the individual chemicals. |
