The use of plant seeds in toxicity tests of phenolic compounds

Three types of plant seeds-millet, radish, and velvetleaf-were used for toxicity tests of phenolic compounds. Preliminary tests using deionized water indicated that the seed assay was simple, and the toxicity tests of various phenolic compounds showed that results were reproducible. Among the three types of seeds, millet was most sensitive in most cases. The drawback for seed toxicity tests is that plant seeds appear to be less sensitive than other bioassay organisms; however, their simplicity and accuracy should not be overlooked.