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Synergistic effects of polystyrene microplastics and trace elements on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) physiology: implications for seed germination, metabolites production, and transcriptomic insights
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Researchers tested how tiny plastic particles (polystyrene microplastics) combined with trace metal elements affected wheat plants. A specific combination improved seed germination rates and changed the plant's chemical makeup and gene activity related to defense and metabolism.
The interaction between microplastics (MPs) and trace elements (TEs) and their combined impact on plant physiology is an emerging concern in environmental science. In this comprehensive study, we investigated the effects of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) and TEs on the physiological growth, and secondary metabolites of wheat. Our results demonstrated that a combined treatment of PS-MPs (50 mg/L) and molybdenum VI oxide (0.01%) significantly enhanced wheat seed germination, including germination rate, final germination percentage, and coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG). We employed response surface methodology (RSM) to identify the low-dose, hormetic TE concentrations that maximize secondary metabolite production in wheat leaves. Metabolomic analysis revealed substantial alterations in amino acid, fatty acid, and energy metabolism. Transcriptomic analysis identified specific genes associated with secondary metabolite production and plant defense mechanisms. Our findings provided critical insights into the complex interactions between MPs and TEs in plants and lay the foundation for future research on their long-term effects on plant health and development. Clinical trial number: Not applicable
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Researchers exposed wheat seeds and seedlings to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that while germination rates were unaffected, root growth increased significantly compared to controls. However, the nanoplastics were taken up by the roots and transported to the shoots, reducing micronutrient absorption and altering key metabolic pathways related to energy and amino acid production. The findings suggest that nanoplastics can fundamentally change how crop plants grow and process nutrients.
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Researchers tested the effects of different microplastics on wheat seed germination and seedling growth and found that all treatments reduced plant development compared to controls. Polythene-containing microplastic treatments had the most negative impact, with significant reductions in both shoot and root length across wheat varieties.
[Effects of Microplastics on the Growth, Physiology, and Biochemical Characteristics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)].
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Wheat seedlings were grown in soils spiked with 100 nm and 5 μm polystyrene microplastics, with high concentrations (200 mg/L) significantly inhibiting root and stem elongation, reducing chlorophyll, and altering antioxidant enzyme activity, with smaller nanoplastics showing greater toxicity. The findings demonstrate that microplastic size influences phytotoxicity in a major agricultural crop.
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Researchers exposed wheat plants to multiple types of microplastics — including polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene — at different concentrations to compare their effects on plant growth and physiological parameters. Different polymer types caused varying degrees of growth inhibition and oxidative stress.
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Researchers investigated the combined effects of the antibiotic oxytetracycline and polyethylene microplastics on wheat seed germination and seedling growth. The study found that while oxytetracycline caused direct toxicity to plant growth, the presence of microplastics modified the antibiotic's effects in complex ways, reprogramming metabolic profiles in wheat leaves differently than either contaminant alone.
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