Transport mechanisms for the uptake of organic compounds by rice ( Oryza sativa) roots

Uptake of six organic compounds, dinitrobenzene (DNB), dinitrotoluene (DNT), lindan (LIN), 1,2,3-triclorobenzene (TCB), phenanthrene (PHN) and pyrene (PYR) by freshly excised rice roots and dead rice roots (heated for 40 min at 105 °C) were investigated. Results indicated that the uptake by the two types of roots did not increase proportionally with those in external solution. There appears to be some special chemical function of root cells other than simple absorption by the cells. The contribution of this special function can be roughly estimated by deducting the partition uptake into cells from the total uptake. Both time-dependent uptake data and concentration-dependent uptake curves demonstrate that, DNT and DNB transport is achieved presumably mainly via the symplastic pathway, while PHN and PYR transport mainly via the apoplastic pathway. For LIN and TCB, apoplastic transport pathway plays major roles in the first 2 h of uptake, then symplastic transport pathway dominates uptake. Different organic compounds may be transported via different pathways in plant roots depending on log K ow.