Bioaccumulation and degradation of pentachloronitrobenzene in Medicago sativa

► Medicago sativa was able to accumulate pentachloronitrobenzene. ► M. sativa can degradate pentachloronitrobenzene. ► Overload of pentachloronitrobenzene triggered generation of reactive oxygen species. ► Several enzymes in soil differentially responded to pentachloronitrobenzene.