- Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has garnered attention in agriculture due to its unique chemical and biological properties that can support plant health, enhance agrochemical delivery, and mitigate environmental stress. Originally developed as an industrial solvent, DMSO’s highly polar, amphipathic structure enables it to penetrate plant and animal tissues, dissolve a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds, and act as a carrier for active ingredients. These characteristics make it a valuable, though carefully regulated, tool in agricultural sciences.
- One of the primary uses of DMSO in agriculture is as a carrier and penetrant for agrochemicals. When mixed with pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers, DMSO can facilitate the transport of these agents through plant cuticles and cell membranes. This increases the efficacy of the active compounds, even at lower doses, thereby reducing the overall chemical load on crops and the environment. Its use in formulations has been shown to improve the uptake of systemic agrochemicals, leading to more uniform and rapid distribution within plant tissues.
- DMSO is also employed as a solubilizing agent in the formulation of agricultural products that include poorly water-soluble active ingredients. By dissolving both hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules, DMSO helps create more stable and homogeneous solutions or emulsions. This property is particularly beneficial in the development of foliar sprays and seed treatments where consistent delivery is crucial for effectiveness.
- In plant physiology and research, DMSO is frequently used in laboratory studies to deliver hormones, growth regulators, or experimental compounds to plant tissues. Due to its low molecular weight and ability to cross biological membranes, it can transport small molecules into plant cells, making it a useful vehicle for experimental treatments. It has also been used in tissue culture and genetic transformation protocols, where it can assist in membrane permeability and protect cells during freezing or exposure to cryogenic agents.
- Furthermore, DMSO has been investigated for its potential stress-mitigating properties in plants. It exhibits antioxidant and cryoprotective effects, which can help protect plant cells under conditions of abiotic stress, such as drought, cold, and salinity. Although not a standard agricultural treatment, its ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species and stabilize cellular membranes has led to experimental applications where DMSO is used to reduce oxidative damage in crops under extreme environmental conditions.
- However, the agricultural use of DMSO must be carefully controlled, as toxicity and phytotoxic effects can occur at higher concentrations. While it is generally safe at low doses, overuse or inappropriate formulation can lead to leaf burn, chlorosis, or other signs of cellular damage in sensitive plant species. Moreover, DMSO’s high permeability means that it can transport not just beneficial substances but also contaminants or harmful compounds into plant tissues and, potentially, into the food chain.
