Root-to-Shoot transfer and distribution of endosulfan in the wetland macrophyte Bidens laevis L.

Abstract

Endosulfan (EDS) is genotoxic in somatic cells of Bidens laevis and reproduction could be affected if translocated from roots to flower buds. Hydroponic experiments were conducted to quantify this transfer. While the root uptake of [14 C] EDS and its transfer to aboveground tissues was relatively low, the resulting average flower buds concentration (1.01 ± 0.76 ng/g) after 30 d of exposure to an aqueous concentration of 5 g/L could still represent a genotoxic risk for germ cells.