The fate of imidacloprid was investigated in tomato plants during 75 days in soil contaminated by 14 C-imidacloprid. Leaves and fruits were separately analysed for total radioactivity and metabolites. Almost 85% of plant radioactivity was translocated to shoots. Radioactivity concentrations decreased from bottom leaves to top leaves. Desnitro-imidacloprid was the main metabolite in leaves. Nevertheless, more than 50% of the leave radioactivity corresponded to imidacloprid. Residue concentrations were similar in all fruits (62.9 ng g -1 ), irrespective of their position on plant. In fruits more than 85% of the radioactivity was due to imidacloprid. The small fraction of residues translocated to fruits depended on the low xylem flow in fruits.