Leakage of electrolytes from leaf discs of treated Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants was used to study the effects of several herbicides of different modes of action on leaf-cell membrane permeability. Linuron (N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N-methoxy-N-methylurea), prometryne (4,6-bisisopropylamino-2-methylthio-1,3,5-triazine), bromacil (5,bromo-6-methyl-3-(1-methyl-n-propyl) uracil), sodium azide and dalapon (2,2-dichloropropionic acid) increased leaf-cell permeability at 24 h after treatment and this occurred without appearance of leaf necrosis. Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine) increased leaf-cell permeability at 96 h and this was always associated with visible injury, including wilting. Paraquat (1,1-dimethyl-4,4-bipyridylium) at 10−5M increased leaf-cell permeability 48 h after treatment, without apparent leaf damage, but at higher concentrations, increased permeability was always associated with visible effects. Chlorpropham (isopropyl N-(d)3-chlorophenyl) carbamate), picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid) and 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) did not alter cell permeability even though epinastic symptoms in leaves became evident 24 h after treatment with picloram and 2,4-D.