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Interaction of nanoplastics and atrazine in a hydroponic system: Antagonistic phytotoxicity mediated by plant-microbe crosstalk and root endophytic bacteria restructuring
Summary
Scientists studying plants grown in water contaminated with both tiny plastic particles and a common weed-killer (atrazine) made a surprising discovery: the plastic actually reduced some of the herbicide's toxic effects on the plants, rather than making things worse. This matters because it shows that pollutants don't simply add up to create bigger problems—they can interact in complex, sometimes unexpected ways, which is important as both microplastics and pesticide residues increasingly turn up together in our water and food systems. While this study focused on plant health, it's a reminder that assessing real-world environmental and food safety risks requires looking at how cont
Nanoplastics (NPs) and herbicides co-occur in agricultural runoff and aquatic environments, posing significant combined threats that were investigated using a hydroponic model. This study systematically investigated the individual and joint ecotoxicity of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) NPs with atrazine (ATZ) on ryegrass using a multi-omics approach. ATZ alone induced the strongest toxicity, elevating oxidative stress, inhibiting growth and photosynthesis, and causing mesophyll damage, while also activating antioxidant defenses. In contrast, combined exposure to NPs and ATZ exhibited antagonistic effects, reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities. Catalase (CAT) activity in PVC + ATZ and PMMA + ATZ groups increased by 1.53- and 1.19-fold compared to ATZ alone. Integrated Biomarker Response ranked toxicity as: ATZ > PVC + ATZ ≈ PMMA + ATZ > PVC > PMMA > CK. Transcriptomics revealed that co-exposure modulated brassinosteroid (BR) and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, synergistically activating phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and glutathione metabolism. Microbial analysis indicated ATZ-driven restructuring of the root endophytic bacteria, with core genera (e.g., Sphingobium) correlated to plant antioxidant responses. This multi-dimensional study demonstrates that NPs and ATZ interact antagonistically, providing key insights for ecological risk assessment and the management of aquatic systems.