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Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Role of Trehalose in Response to Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanoplastics Treatment in Foxtail Millet ( Setaria italica ) Seedlings
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This transcriptome study of foxtail millet seedlings exposed to PET nanoplastics found that trehalose metabolism played a protective role — upregulating trehalose synthesis genes reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation — offering a potential genetic target for developing nanoplastic-tolerant crops.
Foxtail millet (Setaria italica), a drought-tolerant C4 model plant, faces increasing threats from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanoplastics in agricultural ecosystems. While prior studies indicate that PET nanoplastics induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and impair crop productivity, the physiological mechanisms underlying plant responses remain unclear. This study investigates the role of trehalose metabolism in mitigating PET nanoplastic stress in foxtail millet. Transcriptome sequencing of seedlings treated with 1 g/L PET nanoplastics (3 and 7 days) revealed significant differential expression of genes linked to trehalose accumulation, hormone signaling, and metabolic pathways. Notably, genes associated with trehalose biosynthesis (SiTPS/SiTPP) and degradation (SiTRE) were dynamically regulated, suggesting trehalose homeostasis as a critical stress-response mechanism. Exogenous trehalose application effectively alleviated ROS damage under nanoplastic treatment, corroborating its protective role. Further WGCNA analysis indicated the potential involvement of ABA signal transduction and the MAPK signaling pathway in foxtail millet's response to PET nanoplastic stress. Additionally, our findings build on earlier observations that elevated leaf potassium content mitigates ROS but further highlight trehalose-mediated signaling as a complementary adaptive strategy. These results demonstrate that trehalose metabolism, ABA signal transduction, MAPK signaling pathway, and alongside ion homeostasis are integral to foxtail millet's resilience to PET nanoplastics, offering novel insights into plant stress adaptation and potential strategies for enhancing crop tolerance in contaminated environments.
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Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) enhances leaf potassium content and promotes trehalose accumulation through the auxin signaling pathway to cope with PET nanoplastic stress
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Scientists found that foxtail millet, a hardy grain crop, can defend itself against tiny plastic particle pollution (nanoplastics) by boosting potassium levels in its leaves, which triggers the plant to produce a protective sugar called trehalose. This matters because as plastic pollution increasingly contaminates soil and water, understanding how crops naturally cope with it could help researchers breed tougher, more resilient food crops for the future. While this study focuses on plant biology rather than direct human health effects, it's an early step toward protecting our food supply from the growing problem of plastic contamination in agriculture.
Polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics affect potassium accumulation in foxtail millet (Setaria italica) seedlings
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Researchers examined how polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nano- and microplastics affect potassium uptake in foxtail millet seedlings. While PET exposure did not significantly harm germination or growth, it increased reactive oxygen species levels and triggered the upregulation of potassium transport genes, leading to higher potassium accumulation in leaves and a compensatory antioxidant response.
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Researchers reviewed how nanoplastics accumulate in plant tissues and disrupt metabolism, finding that these particles impair nutrient uptake, trigger reactive oxygen species overproduction, and alter gene and protein expression, while multi-omics approaches are revealing the molecular stress-response networks that plants use to tolerate or remediate nanoplastic contamination.
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