Correlation of PCB transformation by plant tissue cultures with their morphology and peroxidase activity changes

The ability of plant cells cultivated in vitro to metabolize polychlorinate d biphenyls (PCBs) was correlated with the morphology of the cultures teste d as models for phytoremediation studies. More differentiated cultures show ed generally higher transformation capacity. The ability of plant cells to transform PCBs is connected to their viability in the presence of PCBs and their behaviour can be positively correlated with the production of intrace llular and extracellular peroxidases. The cultures with high PCB-transformi ng activity proved to exhibit high peroxidase activity in the presence of P CBs while those with low ability to metabolize PCB showed a decrease of the enzyme activity in the presence of PCBs. Experiments with propylgallate we re used to distinguish the ratio of involvement of peroxidases in PCB metab olism.