Transformation in Plants of Sodium Dimethyldithiocarbamate into other Fungitoxic Compounds

Abstract

IN investigations concerning plant chemotherapy it was demonstrated that the fungicide sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate (NaDDC), having been taken up by cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus L.), has some chemotherapeutic activity against Cladosporium cucumerinum ¹. In work on the uptake and translocation of NaDDC by these plants I have found that dimethyldithiocarbamate could not be recovered from the tissues. Instead the presence could be demonstrated of three unknown fungitoxic compounds which have the same mode of action as NaDDC, but differ in chemical properties. These observations show that, in the plant, NaDDC is subject to certain transformations which most probably are of a biochemical nature.