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Translocation of polystyrene nanoplastics in distinct plant species: Novel insight from a split-root system and transcriptomic analysis
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Researchers used a split-root system to study how polystyrene nanoplastics move through cucumber and maize plants, finding that the particles travel from roots to shoots via xylem and redistribute back to roots via phloem. Cucumber roots accumulated more nanoplastics than maize, while maize showed greater redistribution from shoots back to roots. The study revealed that aquaporin proteins play a key role in regulating nanoplastic uptake and transport in plants.
Nanoplastics (NPs) can be absorbed by crop roots and translocated to shoots, but whether the process follows a unidirectional pathway in different plant species remains unclear. This study investigated the translocation and accumulation of europium-labeled polystyrene NPs in cucumber (dicot) and maize (monocot) seedlings using a split-root system. The results showed that NP accumulation was highest in exposed roots (E-R), followed by unexposed roots (UE-R), and then shoots in both plants. In cucumber, NP accumulation in E-R was 26.84 % higher than in maize; while in maize, the translocation factor from shoot to UE-R was 4.45 times greater than in cucumber. TEM images confirmed NP transport from root to shoot via xylem, while confocal images showed the redistribution of NPs from shoot to root via phloem. AgNO treatment (5-50 μmol L) revealed aquaporin-mediated regulation of NP accumulation, with concentration-dependent increases of 30.37-220.7 % in cucumber roots and 36.38-53.65 % in maize shoots. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that NP accumulation interacted with aquaporin gene expression, where differential regulation of tonoplast intrinsic, plasma membrane intrinsic, and nodulin 26-like intrinsic proteins drove translocation differences. This study offers critical insights into the "root-to-shoot-to-root" translocation of NPs, informing crop safety assessments amid global plastic pollution.
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Toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics during transport and redistribution in distinct plant species: A combined split-root experiment and metabolomic analysis
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Researchers used a split-root system to study how polystyrene nanoplastics travel through the root-shoot-root pathway and cause toxicity in cucumber and maize seedlings. The study found that nanoplastics inhibited growth in both exposed and unexposed roots, with cucumber showing greater sensitivity than maize, and metabolomic analysis revealed distinct disruptions in plant metabolism during nanoplastic transport and redistribution.
The distribution and impact of polystyrene nanoplastics on cucumber plants
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Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics of four different sizes distribute within cucumber plants and affect root growth and fruit quality. They found that smaller particles accumulated more readily throughout the plant, moving from roots to leaves and fruit, and caused greater disruption to root physiology. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination in agricultural soils could affect both crop development and food quality.
Transport Dynamicsand Physiological Responses ofPolystyrene Nanoplastics in Pakchoi: Implications for Food Safetyand Environmental Health
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Researchers tracked the transport and physiological responses of polystyrene nanoplastics in pakchoi (bok choy) plants, finding that nanoplastics were absorbed through roots and translocated to shoots where they disrupted chlorophyll production and reduced plant growth.
Transport Dynamics and Physiological Responses of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Pakchoi: Implications for Food Safety and Environmental Health
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Researchers tracked fluorescently labeled nanoplastics as they traveled through pakchoi (a leafy green vegetable), entering through the roots, moving up through the plant's water-transport system, and accumulating in the leaves. The nanoplastics caused oxidative damage and disrupted plant hormones, demonstrating a clear pathway by which plastic pollution in soil could enter the human food supply through everyday vegetables.
Uptake and translocation of polystyrene nanoplastics in edible plants via root and foliar exposure: A qualitative imaging-based study
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Researchers examined the uptake and movement of polystyrene nanoplastics in lettuce, carrot, and wheat following root and foliar exposure using confocal and electron microscopy. The study found that nanoplastics were internalized in root, stem, and leaf tissues of all three species, with lettuce showing the most extensive systemic transport including bidirectional movement, raising potential concerns for human exposure through crop consumption.
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