Evaluation of Callus Cultures to Elucidate the Metabolism of Tebuconazole, Flurtamone, Fenhexamid, and Metalaxyl-M in Brassica napus L., Glycine max (L.) Merr., Zea mays L., and Triticum aestivum L.

Plant cell cultures can be used to identify the metabolic degradation of pesticides in crops. Therefore, Brassica napus L., Glycine max (L.) Merr., Zea mays L. and Triticum aestivum L. were used to elucidate the metabolic degradation of the following pesticides: tebuconazole, flurtamone, fenhexamid, and metalaxyl-M. Callus cultures were treated with 10 μM of the named pesticides by passive diffusion out of the nutrition agar while young plants were hydroponically exposed to it. After 14 days, the comparison of in planta and in vitro experiments showed that the metabolic degradation is well described by in vitro callus cultures. The intracellular uptake of all pesticides and a broad spectrum of exemplarily hydroxylated and conjugated metabolites were detectable. Overall, the comparability of the nature of residues out of both experiments with the regulatory guideline metabolism studies could be demonstrated. Therefore, we recommend it as a potential screening tool to elucidate the metabolism of pesticides in crops.