Metabolism of DDT and Kelthane in cell suspension cultures of parsley (Petroselinum hortense, Hoffm.) and soybean (Glycine max L.).

Cell suspension cultures of parsley and soybean were incubated for 44 to 48 h with(14)C-labeled DDT or Kelthane; autoclaved cultures were used as controls. Most of the radioactivity became associated with the cells, and metabolites were isolated by a sequential extraction procedure. The metabolites amounted to 0.6 to 2.2% of the applied pesticide. Relatively non-polar metabolites were identified as DDE in the case of DDT, and remained unidentified in the case of Kelthane. Polar metabolites were also isolated and are as yet unidentified. They were chromatographically different from the known and less polar metabolites of DDT and Kelthane reported from animal and insect studies. [DDT-1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)-ethane; Kelthane=(1,1-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloro-ethanol; DDE=1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)-ethylene.].