Modeling of Uptake of Xenobiotics in Plants

Abstract

Xenobiotics constitute a potential danger to both life and health of humans. The ignorance of properties of xenobiotics used, as well as of the processes they undergo during agrotechnical activities or in plants' inner circulation, may evoke negative effects on the whole ecosystem. Examining the process of sorption of xenobiotics allows us to predict the behavior of pesticides in different systems, to predict the type of processes they undergo, and to determine the main ways of they penetrate plants. The models of pesticides' behavior in plants also allow us to specify management of their microelements. This article points out the basics for determining the process of sorption modeling, describes processes during uptake, and explains the role of phloem and xylem in these processes.

Keywords:

• analytical methods
• modeling
• plants
• sample preparation
• uptake
• xenobiotics

Acknowledgments

Part of this article was supported by Nicolaus Copernicus University Grant no. 304-Ch (WZ).

We would like to thank Dr. Monika Michel for stimulating discussion which helps us in the preparation of the manuscript.