Seeds of A. thaliana were washed and sterilized in the sterile bench. Patulin and its degradation product were dissolved in methanol and added onto hardened agar medium (1.5% water agar) in sterile 96-well microplates. After one hour, seeds were planted onto the agar. The plates were kept for one week at 23 ?C under long-day conditions (16 h light). Seed germination, colour of the leaves and the lengths of roots and leaves were recorded.