Chlorosis induced by substituted benzoic acids and related compounds

Abstract

A number of derivatives of 4-hydroxy-3-nitrobenzoic acid and 4-methoxy-3-nitrobenzoic acid and related compounds have been prepared, and their ability to produce chlorosis in six different species of plants has been examined. This series of compounds caused white and yellow areas to appear in the young tissues of the plants. A representative ester, ethyl-4-methoxy-3-nitrobenzoate, which caused this effect in barley was shown to affect the iron content and to reduce the quantity of pigments significantly. The structural requirements within this series of compounds for producing the type of chlorosis concerned are briefly discussed.