The systemic action of benzene hexachloride seed dressings

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Wheat seedlings absorb γ‐BHC freely when grown with their roots in a saturated water solution of the insecticide but less than 10 % of the γ‐BHC applied as a seed dressing finds its way into the plants from treated seed grown in compost. About the same proportion of the dressing is absorbed by cabbage seedlings grown from treated seeds, although the usual rate of application is higher in this case. The brassica seems better able than wheat to absorb the insecticide, with the result that concentration of γ‐BHC expressed as μg./g. fresh weight is greater and it is maintained for longer in cabbage than in wheat.The rate of loss of γ‐BHC from soil is shown to be slow compared with the expected life of a seed dressing.Phytotoxic damage to wheat seedlings grown from seed dressed at 1000 p.p.m. γ‐BHC was evident when they were planted in sand but not in compost. Particle size of γ‐BHC in the dressing appeared to be without effect on phytotoxicity.