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Nanoplastics Induce Transgenerational Impacts on Tomato Growth, Oxidative Stress, and Nutritional Quality
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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.
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Polyethylene nanoplastics affected morphological, physiological, and molecular indices in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
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Polyethylene nanoplastics in soil caused significant damage to tomato plants, including reduced growth, delayed flowering, lower fruit quality, and changes in DNA methylation patterns. Even at low concentrations, the nanoplastics triggered oxidative stress and altered gene expression in the plants. These findings raise concerns about food safety because nanoplastic contamination in farm soil could reduce both the yield and nutritional quality of tomatoes and potentially other food crops.
Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on tomato plant growth, fruit yield and quality
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Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics affect tomato plant growth and fruit quality, finding that exposure reduced seedling biomass, impaired photosynthesis, and triggered oxidative stress. At higher concentrations, the nanoplastics inhibited mineral uptake and diminished fruit yield along with nutritional quality markers like vitamin C and lycopene. The study highlights that nanoplastic contamination in agricultural soils could pose a meaningful threat to food crop productivity and nutritional value.
Presence of High-Density Polyethylene Nanoplastics (HDPE-NPs) in Soil Can Influence the Growth Parameters of Tomato Plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) at Various Stages of Development
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Researchers grew tomato plants in soil spiked with high-density polyethylene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations, finding that the nanoplastics slowed germination, reduced root and shoot growth, and affected plant physiology at multiple developmental stages. Effects were dose-dependent and more pronounced at higher nanoplastic concentrations. As nanoplastics are now detected in agricultural soils through biosolid application and irrigation, this study raises concerns about the impact of nano-sized plastic contamination on food crop yields.
Nanoplastics in agriculture: an opinion on their effects on tomato crop
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Researchers reviewed evidence on how nanoplastics affect tomato crops across germination, growth, fruit development, and gene expression, finding dose- and size-dependent inhibition of germination rates, photosynthesis, and yield while also observing epigenetic modifications and transcriptomic responses that parallel stress-induced cellular damage.
Impacts of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Tomato Crops: A Critical Review
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This review covers the impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on tomato crops, documenting disruption at germination, root development, flowering, and fruit production stages. It also examines how these particles alter soil microbial communities and identifies priority research areas for understanding MP effects on major food crops.
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