Conversion of 4-androstene-3,17-dione to testosterone by Pisum sativum

4-Androstene-3,17-dione-[4-¹⁴C] was applied to the leaves of growing pea plants, Pisum sativum. Within a week, 28% of the administered steroid was specifically reduced to testosterone. Part of the testosterone was present in esterified form, and 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol was also identified as a metabolite, but neither epitestosterone nor estrogens were detected.