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Nanoplastics Induce Transgenerational Impacts on Tomato Growth, Oxidative Stress, and Nutritional Quality
Summary
Tiny plastic particles in soil (called nanoplastics, which come from breaking-down plastic waste) stunted tomato plant growth, delayed ripening, and reduced both the amount and nutritional quality of the fruit—and stressed the plants at a cellular level. Interestingly, the next generation of plants grown from these exposed tomatoes showed somewhat less damage, suggesting plants may partially adapt over generations, but the initial harm to crop yield and quality is still a concern as plastic pollution builds up in farmland soils. Since tomatoes are a staple food crop, this research is an early warning sign that
The presence of nanoplastics in agricultural soils raises concerns about their potential for uptake, accumulation, and toxicity on crops. Here, we investigated the transgenerational effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) on tomatoes, focusing on the growth, oxidative stress responses, and fruit nutritional quality across parental (F0) and offspring (F1) generations. Exposure to PS-NPs inhibited plant growth and fruit ripening and reduced fruit yield and quality in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, these adverse effects were partially mitigated in the F1 generation, indicating a transgenerational attenuation of the nanoplastic toxicity. Oxidative state analysis revealed elevated levels of H 2 O 2, malondialdehyde, and antioxidant enzyme activity. Overall, these findings demonstrate that PS-NPs exert phytotoxic and transgenerational effects on tomatoes, affecting growth, oxidative balance, and nutritional quality, with transgenerational effects partially mitigated in progeny. The study highlights the importance of considering the long-term and generational impacts of nanoplastic pollution in agroecosystems.