The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in ecotoxicity of agricultural soil under the infl uence of Agritox 500SL, an herbicide from the phenoxyacid group, containing MCPA (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid), applied every 3 weeks for 3 months. Biodegradation potential in control and weathered soil was confi rmed by the analysis of the functional gene tfdA using PCR technique. Properties of the soil were assessed by the analysis of granulometric composition, pH, the content of macroelements and heavy metals. The soil ecotoxicity was measured using biotests Phytotoxkit ® and Microtox ® .The content of Ni (70 mg/kg) and Cr (21 mg/kg) was especially high in the soil with Agritox 500SL. The highest toxic effect for test organisms was observed in freshly spiked soil: 99% L. sativum, 97% S. alba, 66% S. saccharatum (% root growth inhibition) and 76% V. fi scheri (% luminescence inhibition). Weathering processes signifi cantly decreased the soil ecotoxicity being 36%, 34% and 3% for V. fi scherii, S. alba and L. sativum, respectively. S. saccharatum showed 12% stimulation of the root length. Molecular analysis confi rmed the potential of indigenous soil bacteria to biodegrade MCPA by the presence of tfdAα and tfdA Class III genes in the studied soil. The obtained results proved that either MCPA and residues of its decomposition or additional supporting substances in Agritox 500 SL, can infl uence enhanced soil ecototoxicity. The presence of functional tfdA genes in both: control and weathered soil, confi rmed the high potential of indigenous soil bacteria to degrade MCPA.
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