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Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter Inhibits Plant Root Growth by Disrupting Polar Auxin Transport via Specific Molecular Fractions
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Researchers found that dissolved organic matter leaching from polystyrene and PBAT microplastics — but not polypropylene — inhibits plant root elongation by disrupting polar auxin transport, with low-polarity saturated molecules interfering with phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and causing abnormal hormone accumulation in root meristem tissue.
root growth. The results indicated that PS-DOM and PBAT-DOM, but not PP-DOM, significantly inhibit root elongation in a dose-dependent manner by impairing the meristem zone and stem cell activity. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that MP-DOM altered gene expression related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and the plant hormone signal transduction pathway. Molecular transformation network analysis revealed that low-polarity saturated molecules enriched in PS-DOM and PBAT-DOM perturbed the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, thereby indirectly impairing auxin homeostasis. Phenotypic analysis of auxin reporter lines confirmed that PS-DOM and PBAT-DOM disrupt polar auxin transport by downregulating the expression of auxin transporters, leading to abnormal auxin accumulation and inhibition of root growth. This study elucidates the molecular mechanism underlying MP-DOM-induced phytotoxicity, providing insight into the ecological risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural production.
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Disruption of auxin homeostasis by negatively charged nanoplastics inhibits plant primary root development
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Experiments with plant seedlings showed that negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics strongly inhibit root development by disrupting the plant hormone auxin, which controls root cell growth and organization — while positively charged nanoplastics had much weaker effects. Transcriptomic analysis and molecular docking identified specific molecular targets disrupted by the negatively charged particles. This matters because nanoplastics in soil carry varied surface charges depending on their aging and environment, and charge-specific toxicity helps explain why plant responses to nanoplastic exposure can be inconsistent across studies.
Molecular mechanisms underlying microplastics-induced inhibition of lateral root development in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
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Researchers investigated how PET microplastics affect tomato seedling root development and found that exposure significantly inhibited lateral root growth, reduced chlorophyll content, and impaired photosynthesis. The study revealed that microplastics triggered oxidative stress in root tips and disrupted auxin and abscisic acid hormone signaling pathways, suggesting these molecular mechanisms underlie the observed phytotoxicity.
Polystyrene microplastics disturb the redox homeostasis, carbohydrate metabolism and phytohormone regulatory network in barley
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Researchers exposed barley plants to polystyrene microplastics and found the particles accumulated in roots and stunted rootlet development by disrupting redox balance, carbohydrate metabolism enzymes, and phytohormone signaling pathways.
Negative effects of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) microplastics on Arabidopsis and its root-associated microbiome
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Researchers investigated the effects of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) biodegradable microplastics on Arabidopsis thaliana and its root-associated microbiome, finding that PBAT-MPs at tested concentrations in agricultural soil caused negative impacts on plant growth and altered the composition of root-zone microbial communities.
Root traits and rhizosphere responses as emerging bioindicators of microplastic pollution in agricultural soils: A review
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This review examines how microplastic pollution in agricultural soils disrupts root growth, nutrient uptake, and the beneficial interactions between plant roots and soil microbes. Researchers found that microplastics can alter root exudation patterns, change soil structure, and shift microbial communities around roots in ways that may impair crop productivity. The study proposes that root traits and rhizosphere responses could serve as early warning indicators of microplastic contamination in farmland.
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