Metabolism of dimethyl sulfoxide in sprouting potato tubers

Whole and cut potato tubers treated with high and low dosages of DMSO respond with a favourable increase in sprouting. DMSO was metabolized to dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl sulfone. A large proportion of the applied DMSO remained unchanged. The major metabolite was dimethyl sulfide suggesting that simple reduction is the preferred route of metabolic breakdown. Growing sprouts were apparently the major site of DMSO metabolism and their development was unaffected by high dosages. (author)