The Regulation of Synthesis of Phenolics in Stationary Phase Cell Cultures of Acer pseudoplatanus L.

The addition of 2/ (w/v) sucrose to stationary phase suspensioncultures of sycamore (Acer pesudoplatanus) in medium depletedof nitrogen and phosphorus leads to the accumulation of highlevels of phenolics after a 5 d lag period. Urea and 2,4-D inhibitthis accumulation of phenolics. Urea results in a stimulationin cell protein content coincident with phenolics in hibition,and leads to a substantial diversion of the common precursorphenylalanine from phenolics synthesis into protein synthesis.2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) does not lead to proteinaccumulation since the cultures are nitrogen-limited, but stimulatesan increase in protein turnover coincident with phenolics inhibition.The role of protein synthesis in the regulation of phenolicsmetabolism through competition for common precursors is discussed.     

Phenolic synthesis and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity in suspension cultures of Acer pseudoplatanus L.

Summary Phenolic metabolism is influenced by the levels of sucrose, nitrogen and 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in the growth medium. Chromatographic evidence suggests that the principle products are polymers of leucocyanin, (-) epicatechin and (+) catechin, constituting condensed tannins. Comparison of ethanolic cell extracts with extracts from plant organs shows that although these compounds are present in parts of the plant they are not the major phenolics.Cells maintained in a modified Heller's medium containing 9.0×10^–7 M 2,4-D produce increased levels of tannins from mid passage (day 12) onwards. The presence of 2,4-D at 9.0×10^–6 M supresses this response and increased initial sucrose levels cause the amount of tannins to be greater. At the period when tannin levels increase the standard medium is exhaused of its nitrogen sources, urea and nitrate. Increased initial nitrogen levels delay the beginning of increased tannin production and the addition of urea or 2,4-D to cultures already containing high levels of tannins causes the tannin content per gram fresh weight and per culture to decline. These results indicate an antagonism between tannin synthesis and nitrogen metabolism. The activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase EC 4.1.1.5. (PAL) estimated by a spectrophotometric method in acetone powders derived from Acer cells increases three to four fold at the onset of increased tannin synthesis and then declines sharply. The phase of high PAL activity correlates with the exhausion of the medium nitrogen sources.Abbreviation 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid One of the authors (R.J.W.) was supported by a Science Research Council Studentship during the course of this work.     

Accumulation of anthraquinones in Morinda citrifolia cell suspensions

Cell suspensions of Morinda citrifolia were cultivated in a B5-medium containing 4% sucrose as the sole carbon source and 1 mg l^-1 naphthyl acetic acid (NAA) or 1 mg l^-1 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Both auxins were able to support growth but only in the presence of NAA anthraquinone production was observed. 2,4-D inhibited the production in NAA cultures. Anthraquinone synthesis took place in the growth and the stationary phase and amounts of 0.2–0.4 mmol (about 100–200 mg) g^-1 dry weight could be reached.Under both growth conditions sucrose was hydrolyzed extracellularly by invertase. From the resulting monosaccharides, glucose was taken up preferentially and an appreciable uptake of fructose only took place when medium glucose was exhausted. Sugar uptake rates were similar when cells were grown in NAA and in 2,4-D medium but the intracellular sugar contents (expressed on a dry weight basis) differed considerably. The presence of sucrose, glucose and fructose was demonstrated under both growth conditions. The amounts of sucrose and glucose were much lower in the 2,4-D cells than in the NAA-cells especially during the growth phase. Fructose contents were low and comparable, while in NAA cells an unknown sugar (possibly the sugar moiety of the glycosylated anthraquinones) was observed especially at the end of the growth phase and in the stationary phase. The differences in sugar concentrations were even larger due to the lower water contents of the NAA cells.Respiration of 2,4-D cells was much higher than that of NAA cells during the growth phase. A sharp increase in sugar contents (mainly sucrose) occurred in the 2,4-D cells at the end of the growth phase and corresponded with the fall in respiratory activity.A possible correlation between the lack of production of anthraquinones in 2,4-D cells and a less efficient growth metabolism in these cells is discussed.Abbreviations AQ anthraquinones - 2,4-D 2,4-dichloro-phenoxy-acetic acid - DW dry weight - FW fresh weight - NAA naphthyl acetic acid - pCPO p-chloro-phenoxy-acetic acid     

Effect of auxins on the formation of ubiquinone by tobacco plant cells in suspension culture

Ubiquinone (UQ) formation in BY-2 tobacco cells was especially promoted by a high concentration of 2,4-D. 2,4,5-T, MCP and NAA also promoted UQ formation in these cells. The UQ content in the cells cultured at high concentrations of 2,4-D was higher than that of controls throughout the culture period. The addition of 2,4-D at an early period in cell growth was very effective in promoting UQ formation, but addition at the stationary phase was ineffective. Cell growth was improved by adding phosphate to the medium but UQ content was decreased. UQ content decreased slowly during subculturing, whereas cell growth recovered gradually.     

Activation of cell proliferation by brassinolide application in tobacco BY-2 cells: effects of brassinolide on cell multiplication, cell-cycle-related gene expression, and organellar DNA contents

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroidal phytohormones that are essential for many processes in plant growth and development, such as cell expansion, vascular differentiation, and responses to stress. The effects of BRs on cell division are unclear, as attested by contradictory published results. To determine the effect of BRs on cell division, the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) BY-2 cell line, which is a widely-used model system in plant cell biology, was used. It was found that brassinolide (BL) promoted cell division only during the early phase of culture and in the absence of auxin (2,4-D). This promotion of cell division was confirmed by RNA gel blot analyses using cell-cycle-related gene probes. At later stages in the culturing periods of BL-supplied and 2,4-D-supplied BY-2 cells, differences in cell multiplication and cell-cycle-related gene expression were observed. Moreover, the BL-treated BY-2 cells had morphological differences from the 2,4-D-treated cells. To determine whether suppressed organellar DNA replication limited this promotion of cell division during the early culture phase, this replication was examined and it was found that BL treatment had no effect on activating organellar (plastid- and mitochondrial-) DNA synthesis. As preferential organellar DNA synthesis, which is activated by 2,4-D, is necessary during successive cell divisions in BY-2 cells, these data suggest that the mechanism of the promotion of cell division by BL treatment is distinct from that regulated by the balance of auxin and cytokinin.     

Establishment of Orthosiphon stamineus Cell Suspension Culture for Cell Growth

Callus of Orthosiphon stamineus could be induced successfully from petiole, leaf and stem tissues but not roots when cultured on MS medium containing different concentration of NAA (0–4.0 mg l^–1) and 2,4-D (0–2.0 mg l^–1). Highest fresh weight callus production was obtained from leaf explants and those with best friability were obtained on MS medium plus 1.0 mg l^–1 2,4-D plus 1.0 mg l^–1 NAA. Cell suspension cultures were established from these cultures. The appropriate cell inoculum size for the best cell growth was 0.75 g of cells in 20 ml culture medium. Cell suspension culture using MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l^–1 2,4-D promoted the best cell growth with maximum biomass of 8.609 g fresh weight and 0.309 g dry weight 24 days after inoculation. Cells that grew in MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l^–1 2,4-D reached the stationary growth phase in 15 days as compared to the cells that grew in MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l^–1 2,4-D + 1.0 mg l^–1 NAA reached the stationary phase in 24 days. MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l^–1 2,4-D was considered as the maintenance medium for maintaining the optimum cell growth of O. stamineus in the cell suspension cultures with 2-week interval subculture.     

Auxin-induced rapid changes in translatable mRNAs in tobacco cell suspension

When 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)-dependent tobacco cell suspensions, one normal and one transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, were subcultured on hormone-lacking medium the stationary phase of the cell cycle was reached earlier than on medium containing 2,4-D. Addition of the auxin 2,4-D could restore cell division activity within 10–12 h for the most rapidly reacting cell line. The cell-division response was characterized as being auxin-specific and optimal with 2,4-D at 2.2 10^-6 M. Although the cell lines used showed different characteristics, both reacted with a rapid increase in at least three mRNA species within 1 or 2 h after 2,4-D application. Two, 2,4-D-induced protein spots, seen after in-vitro translation, had the same characteristics (MWs 35 kilodaltons (kDa) and 25 kDa with isoelectric points of 7.1 and 6.3, respectively) in both cell lines. Water-treated controls did not show alterations in the translatable mRNA populations. This indicates that the accumulation of the corresponding mRNAs is an early hormone-induced event. Since cell division is the only measurable reaction found after auxin application, cell systems as described here offer excellent possibilities for studying early auxin-induced changes at the molecular level preceding mitosis.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - kDa kilodalton     

Measurement of Growth at Very Low Rates ((mu) >= 0), an Approach To Study the Energy Requirement for the Survival of Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP 134

Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP 134 was grown in a recycling-mode fermenter with 100% biomass retention on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), phenol, and fructose. The growth pattern obtained given a constant supply of substrates exhibited three phases of linear growth on all three substrates. The transition from phase 1 to phase 2, considered to correspond to the onset of stringent (growth) control as indicated by a significant increase in guanosine 5(prm1)-bisphosphate 3(prm1)-bisphosphate (ppGpp), took place at 0.016 h(sup-1) with 2,4-D and at about 0.02 h(sup-1) with phenol and fructose. In the final phase, phase 4, which was achieved after the growth rate on the respective substrates fell below 0.003 to 0.001 h(sup-1), a constant level of biomass was obtained irrespective of further feeding of substrate at the same rate. The yield coefficients decreased by 70 to 80% from phase 1 to phase 3 and were 0 in phase 4. The stationary substrate concentrations s(infmin) in phase 4, calculated from the kinetic constants of the strain, were 1.23, 0.34, and 0.23 (mu)M for 2,4-D, phenol, and fructose, respectively. These figures characterize the minimum stationary substrate concentrations required in a dynamic system to keep A. eutrophus alive. This is caused by a substrate flux which enables growth at a rate >=0 due to the provision of energy to an extent at least satisfying maintenance requirements. According to the constant feed rates of the substrates and the final and stable biomass concentrations, this maintenance energy amounts to 14.4, 4.0, and 2.4 (mu)mol of ATP (middot) mg of dry mass(sup-1) h(sup-1) for 2,4-D, phenol, and fructose, respectively, after correction for the fraction of living cells. The increased energy expenditure in the case of 2,4-D is discussed with respect to uncoupling.     

Establishment of synchrony by starvation and readdition of auxin in suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus cells

A system of synchronous cell division was established by starvation of auxin and its readdition to suspension cultures of cells of Catharanthus roseus L. cv. Little-Pinky. When cells in the stationary phase were transferred to fresh medium free of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), cells were arrested preferentially at the G₁ phase. After cells had been cultured for 2 days in medium without 2,4-D, readdition of 2,4-D induced the synchronous division of cells. In this system, 70–80% of cells divided synchronously within 3 to 4h, and the mitotic index increased sharply in parallel with the increase in cell number. Active synthesis of DNA was demonstrated by measurements of incorporation of [³H]-thymidine into the DNA fraction. The induction of cell division by the addition of 2,4-D was inhibited by treating cells with analogues of auxin, such as 2,4,6-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid and p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - DAPI 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - MS Murashige & Skoog - NAA -naphthalenacetic acid - PCIB p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid - 2,4,6-T 2,4,6-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

Auxin requirements of sycamore cells in suspension culture

Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) cell suspension cultures (strain OS) require 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in their culture medium for normal growth. If the 2,4-D is omitted, rates of cell division are dramatically reduced and cell lysis may occur. Despite this `auxin requirement,' it has been shown by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry that the cells synthesize indol-3yl-acetic acid (IAA). Changes in free 2,4-D and IAA in the cells during a culture passage have been monitored.

There is a rapid uptake of 2,4-D by the cells during the lag phase leading to a maximum concentration per cell (125 nanograms per 10⁶ cells) on day 2 followed by a decline to 45 nanograms per 10⁶ cells by day 9 (middle of linear phase). The initial concentration of IAA (0.08 nanograms per 10⁶ cells) rises slowly to a peak of 1.4 nanograms per 10⁶ cells by day 9 then decreases rapidly to 0.2 nanograms per 10⁶ cells by day 15 (early declining phase) and 0.08 nanograms per 10⁶ cells by day 23 (early stationary phase).

     

Increasing ploidy level in cell suspension cultures of Doritaenopsis by exogenous application of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

To clarify the causal factors for ploidy variation in plant cell culture, we attempted to alter ploidy distribution in cell cultures of a tetraploid cultivar of Doritaenopsis by changing the plant growth regulators (PGRs) in the culture medium. The original suspension cultured cells, which had been maintained in medium containing 0.1 mg l⁻¹ 1-naphthaleneacetic acid and 1 mg l⁻¹ benzyladenine, were transferred onto various gellan gum solidified media with a single application of PGRs, and the ploidy distributions of the cells were examined using flow cytometry analysis during 3 weeks of culture. Among the PGRs tested, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid caused a drastic reduction in the 4C-cell proportion in cell cultures with an increased cell proportion of 8C or higher C-values. In the case of 2,4-D application, a reduction of cell viability was observed. A decreasing proportion was also observed in the 8C-cell population accumulated by 2,4-D treatment, following transfer back to the medium containing the standard PGR composition. These results suggest that the exogenous application of 2,4-D arrested the cell cycle at G2 phase in the Doritaenopsis cells, and the removal of 2,4-D might induce further endoreduplication or recover the mitotic cycle of the G2-arrested cells.     

Measurement of Growth at Very Low Rates ((mu) >= 0), an Approach To Study the Energy Requirement for the Survival of Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP 134

Alcaligenes eutrophus JMP 134 was grown in a recycling-mode fermenter with 100% biomass retention on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), phenol, and fructose. The growth pattern obtained given a constant supply of substrates exhibited three phases of linear growth on all three substrates. The transition from phase 1 to phase 2, considered to correspond to the onset of stringent (growth) control as indicated by a significant increase in guanosine 5(prm1)-bisphosphate 3(prm1)-bisphosphate (ppGpp), took place at 0.016 h(sup-1) with 2,4-D and at about 0.02 h(sup-1) with phenol and fructose. In the final phase, phase 4, which was achieved after the growth rate on the respective substrates fell below 0.003 to 0.001 h(sup-1), a constant level of biomass was obtained irrespective of further feeding of substrate at the same rate. The yield coefficients decreased by 70 to 80% from phase 1 to phase 3 and were 0 in phase 4. The stationary substrate concentrations s(infmin) in phase 4, calculated from the kinetic constants of the strain, were 1.23, 0.34, and 0.23 (mu)M for 2,4-D, phenol, and fructose, respectively. These figures characterize the minimum stationary substrate concentrations required in a dynamic system to keep A. eutrophus alive. This is caused by a substrate flux which enables growth at a rate >=0 due to the provision of energy to an extent at least satisfying maintenance requirements. According to the constant feed rates of the substrates and the final and stable biomass concentrations, this maintenance energy amounts to 14.4, 4.0, and 2.4 (mu)mol of ATP (middot) mg of dry mass(sup-1) h(sup-1) for 2,4-D, phenol, and fructose, respectively, after correction for the fraction of living cells. The increased energy expenditure in the case of 2,4-D is discussed with respect to uncoupling.     

Age and nutrient limitation enhance polyunsaturated aldehyde production in marine diatoms

Skeletonema marinoi produces 2,4-heptadienal, 2,4-octadienal, and 2,4,7-octatrienal, the latter only in traces. In nutrient-replete cultures, the production of potentially defensive polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUA) increases from the exponential to the stationary phase of growth from 1.2 fmol cell(-1) (+/-0.4 fmol cell(-1) SD) to 4.2 fmol cell(-1) (+/-1.0 fmol cell(-1) SD), with 2,4-heptadienal as the dominant aldehyde. The plasticity of PUA production with age of the culture supports the hypothesis of a direct link between toxin production and cell physiological state. N- and P-limited cells in stationary phase produced 1.4 and 1.8 fold higher amounts of PUA than control cultures and 10.7 and 4.6 times higher PUAs when compared to their own exponential growth phase, respectively. The increase in PUA production in the nutrient-limited cultures was not paralleled by an increase in the total amount of precursor fatty acids indicating that physiological stress might trigger an enhanced expression or activity of the enzymes responsible for PUA production, i.e. chemical defense increase in aged and nutrient-stressed diatoms. If this holds true during blooms, grazers feeding at the end of a bloom would be more affected than early-bloom grazers.     

The modifying effect of gibberellic acid and kinetin on the growth abnormalities induced by 2,4-D in marrow seedlings and the possible involvement of endogenous ethylene

Swelling of the hypocotyl base induced by 2,4-D in seedlings of marrow was much reduced if GA₃ was also present in the incubation medium. At appropriate concentrations kinetin also counteracted this 2,4-D effect, although at higher concentrations appeared to be ineffective. GA₃ was also able to overcome the inhibitory effects of 2,4-D on extension growth in the hypocotyl but kinetin was much less effective in this case. None of the treatments employed was able to alleviate the inhibition of radicle extension induced by 2,4-D.Ethephon induced similar responses in the seedlings to those resulting from 2,4-D treatment, while treatment with a mixture of 2,4-D and CoCl₂ removed many of these growth abnormalities. These observations are interpreted as indicating that 2,4-D operates at least partly by stimulating the production of ethylene in the tissues. 2,4-D strongly inhibited the accumulation of endogenous gibberellin during the period of seedling development examined, but enhanced cytokinin levels during the later stages of the same period. The possibility of interactions at the biosynthetic level between gibberellins, cytokinins and ethylene and their involvement in the regulation of seedling development are discussed.     

Inside-out but not right side-out plasma membrane vesicles from soybean enlarge when treated with ATP + 2,4-D as determined by electron microscopy and light scattering: evidence for involvement of a plasma membrane AAA-ATPase

The concept that the location of an AAA-ATPase associated with the plant plasma membrane may be indicative of a functional relationship to growth or cell enlargement by analogy with roles in physical membrane displacements as proposed for AAA-ATPases associated with internal membranes was tested. A plant growth hormone-responsive and nucleoside triphosphate-dependent enlargement of inside-out vesicles of plasma membranes from soybeans was utilized in a completely cell-free system. The rate of enlargement was accelerated by the synthetic plant growth factor 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in a log dose-dependent manner and was increased approximately 2-fold with the addition of 1 microM 2,4-D plus 100 microM ATP compared to 100 microM ATP alone, 1 microM 2,4-D alone or no additions. The cell-free enlargement was inhibited by AAA-ATPase-specific antisera and by CoCl2, an inhibitor specific for AAA-ATPases. The responsible ATP site appears to be on the inside of the cell, since right side-out vesicles did not enlarge in response to either ATP, 2,4-D or the two in combination.     

Studies on the Growth in Culture of Plant Cells: VIII. THE PRODUCTION OF ETHYLENE BY SUSPENSION CULTURES OF ACER PSEUDOPLATANUS, L.

Sycamore cell suspension cultures in a synthetic medium releaseethylene; during a 24-day incubation period a single culture(initial volume 70 ml) produces c. 4 µ moles. There isa very sharp peak of ethylene production between day 10 andday 14 of culture; at the peak of production c. 2 nmoles ethyleneare released per million cells in 24 h. Evidence is presentedthat 2,4-D enhances ethylene production independently of itseffects on culture growth. Under the standard conditions of culture (250-ml Erlenmeyerflasks closed with aluminium foil and containing 70 ml cellsuspension) the concentration of ethylene in the gas phase ofthe cultures rises above 10 ppm. No evidence was obtained thatthis ethylene is inhibitory to culture growth or that a criticallevel of ethylene is necessary to initiate cell division incultures at a critically low cell density. The low rate of ethylene release by stationary phase culturesis temporarily enhanced by the addition of various solutes andfurther depressed by dilution with water.     

Effects of 2,4-D removal on the synthesis of specific proteins by Catharanthus roseus cell cultures

Total and neosynthesized proteins of periwinkle cell suspensions (Catharanthus roseus) were first investigated in cells grown in a 2,4-D-containing medium. Analysis of total (silver-stained) proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that the levels of seventeen polypeptides were altered during the growth cycle of the cells. Analysis of in vivo [³⁵S]-methionine labeled polypeptides revealed differences in the synthesis of at least 35 polypeptides. Three polypeptides with molecular masses of 30, 35 and 39 kDa appeared to be specific markers of the early stationary phase. In a second sequence of experiments, cells were grown in a 2,4-D-free medium. Alterations in protein synthesis were observed: several polypeptides were expressed earlier in the 2,4-D-starved cells than in control cells; the synthesis of at least two specific polypeptides was increased in cells grown in 2,4-D-free medium, whereas the synthesis of three other polypeptides (molecular masses 33, 34 and 52.5 kDa) was switched on in these cells. As previous studies showed that 2,4-D depletion increased the alkaloid production in C. roseus cells, the present results may suggest that these polypeptides are implicated in the regulation of the alkaloid pathway.     

Establishment of anthocyanin-producing cell suspension cultures of Cleome rosea Vahl ex DC. (Capparaceae)

The effects of different levels of Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and sucrose on anthocyanin production and biomass accumulation of cell suspension cultures of Cleome rosea were investigated. Cultures were established in liquid MS medium containing 30 g l⁻¹ sucrose and supplemented with 0.90 μM 2,4-D. Proliferating cell suspension cultures achieved the highest growth capacity, a fourfold increase in biomass accumulation, following subculture at the exponential growth phase, 14–18 days of culture. Moreover, the presence of 2,4-D was essential for anthocyanin production and biomass accumulation. On the other hand, increasing levels of sucrose above 30 g l⁻¹ resulted in a drastic reduction in biomass accumulation. Anthocyanin production was highest in cell suspension cultures grown on half-strength MS medium (1/2 MS), 30 g l⁻¹ sucrose, and 0.45 μM 2,4-D. These cell suspension cultures were mainly composed of small aggregates of spherical cells with similar morphology observed in anthocyanin-producing and non-producing cultures. Moreover, microscopic analysis of anthocyanin-producing cultures showed the presence of mixtures of non-pigmented, low-pigmented, and high-pigmented cells.     

Comparative effects of the herbicides dicamba, 2,4-D and paraquat on non-green potato tuber calli

The effects of the herbicides 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridylium dichloride (paraquat), 3,6-dichloro-2-metoxybenzoic acid (dicamba) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on cell growth of non-green potato tuber calli are described. We attempted to relate the effects with toxicity, in particular the enzymes committed to the cellular antioxidant system. Cell cultures were exposed to the herbicides for a period of 4 weeks. Cellular integrity on the basis of fluorescein release was strongly affected by 2,4-D, followed by dicamba, and was not affected by paraquat. However, the three herbicides decreased the energy charge, with paraquat and 2,4-D being very efficient. Paraquat induced catalase (CAT) activity at low concentrations (1muM), whereas at higher concentrations, inhibition was observed. Dicamba and 2,4-D stimulated CAT as a function of concentration. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was strongly stimulated by paraquat, whereas dicamba and 2,4-D were efficient only at higher concentrations. Glutathione reductase (GR) activity was induced by all the herbicides, suggesting that glutathione and glutathione-dependent enzymes are putatively involved in the detoxification of these herbicides. Paraquat slightly inhibited glutathione S-transferase (GST), whereas 2,4-D and dicamba promoted significant activation. These results indicate that the detoxifying mechanisms for 2,4-D and dicamba may be different from the mechanisms of paraquat detoxification. However, the main cause of cell death induced by paraquat and 2,4-D is putatively related with the cell energy charge decrease.