title: Detection of sulphite in plants.
abstract: Artificially SO(2)-fumigated plant material was investigated for its sulphite content. Experiments with moderate concentrations of SO(2) (0.15-0.45 mg m(-3) lasting for 3 weeks, showed no detectable amounts of sulphite present in peas. Considering the detection limit of the method, this indicates that the steady state level in plant tissues is below 4 x 10(-5)M sulphite. Only in pea plants exposed to very high SO(2)-doses of 2.6-26mg m(-3) for 12-48 h, was sulphite recorded. We conclude from our results that sulphite dioxide, taken up by pea plants, is very effectively removed by enzymic and non-enzymic processes, and this 'detoxification' prevents accumulation of sulphite in the plant tissue, and so only very small amounts of sulphite are to be expected in SO(2)-damaged plant material. The possible role of very low sulphite concentrations in plant tissues is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie der Universität Graz, A-8010 Graz, Schubertstrasse 1, Austria.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Esterbauer
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jäger
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grill