Responses of Petunia hybrida and Phaseolus vulgaris to fumigation with difluoro-chloro-bromo-methane. Halon 1211

Metabolic reactions of Petunia hybrida and Phaseolus vulgaris exposed to a halon concentration of 10 ppb over a period of 26 and 45 days, respectively were investigated. The response of both plant species to the exposure was a slight increase of the protein contents and of major pigments. A large increase of up to 200 % was observed in the activity of the detoxifying enzyme glutathione S-transferase in fumigated plants. These physiological changes, namely the increase of the glutathione S-transferase activity, are interpreted as detoxification reactions.