Abstract
Summary
The fatal effects of PMOH and PMN at near 10−5 M on enlarging cells of onion root tips were successfully antagonized in an hour's exposure with cysteine and glutathione at around 10−4 M and by extracts of yeast (0.5-1%) and of beef spleen (0.5%). Gross reactions provided a delicate indicator for estimating the efficiency of the antagonists and showed a reduction in toxicity of 50% to 95%. Cysteine and glutathione at 0.01% also protected roots against PMN 0.2 ppm for 3 days continuously. Effective concentrations of all antagonists by themselves caused some growth arrest. The enzymic systems involved and the possible mechanism of antagonism are discussed.
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