The distribution of 14C-TNT in different biochemical compartments of the monocotyledonous Triticum aestivum

14C-TNT was used to quantify the uptake rate and metabolic turnover of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in Triticum aestivum. Plants were analysed by the special cell fractionation method described by Sens et al. (Environmental Science and Pollution Research, in press). 14C partitioned to wheat with 43% in the cytoplasm and 57% in the cell wall. Three unpolar and more than ten polar TNT-metabolites were detected by thin layer chromatography in the cytoplasm of wheat. Two of these unpolar metabolites are identified as 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2-ADNT) and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4-ADNT). In the cell wall 27% of 14C taken up or adsorbed by wheat was detected in the lignin fraction. Gel permeation chromatography indicates a covalent linkage of TNT-metabolites with lignin. The molecular weight of lignin metabolites was between 1000–80 000 g/mol in relation to polystyrene standards.