Effect of temperature and sucrose concentration on hydroquinone toxicity in leafy spurge suspension culture cells.

Euphorbia esula (leafy spurge) suspension culture cell bioassays were used to determine whether sucrose accumulation enhanced the glucosylation (detoxification) of hydroquinone in this noxious weed. The bioassay results indicate that cold temperatures and exogenous hydroquinone represent a dual stress to spurge cell growth that can be partially ameliorated by hydrolysis of sucrose. The persistent susceptibility of leafy spurge suggests that hydroquinone-producing forage plants (which are not toxic to animals) might be used as natural competitors.