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Foliar exposure to microplastics disrupts lettuce metabolism and negatively interferes with symbiotic microbial communities
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When microplastics were sprayed onto lettuce leaves to simulate airborne contamination, the plants showed reduced chlorophyll and photosynthesis rates of up to 81%, even though they appeared to grow normally. The microplastics also disrupted beneficial bacteria on the leaves and in the soil around the roots, including bacteria that help plants grow. This suggests that airborne microplastics landing on crops could quietly reduce their health and productivity while also harming the soil ecosystem.
Plant leaves are considered an important sink for atmospheric microplastics (MPs) because they serve as a vital interface between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems. However, there is still a dearth of information regarding how plant-symbiotic microbe-soil systems are affected by foliar exposure to MPs. In this study, MPs (polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP)) were sprayed over soil-cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) four occasions, with final sprays containing 0.4 and 4 μg of MPs per plant. MPs had no discernible impact on lettuce growth as compared to the control group. However, MPs led to reductions in relative chlorophyll content from 16.91 to 30.64 % and net photosynthetic rate from 6.64 to 81.41 %. These results validate the phytotoxicity linked to MP exposure through foliar application. The presence of MPs triggered interspecific competition among phyllosphere microbial species and reduced microbial network complexity by forming ecological niches and regulating carbon- and nitrogen-related metabolic pathways. Furthermore, MPs inhibited the growth of beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere soil, including a variety of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR) such as Rhizobiales, Pseudomonadales, and Bacillales. This study identifies the ecological health risks associated with atmospheric MPs, which may have a detrimental impact on crop production and further compromise soil ecosystem security.
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Metabolic response of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) to polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics after foliar exposure
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Researchers exposed lettuce plants to polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics through their leaves and found that the particles altered the plant's metabolism differently depending on particle size. This foliar exposure pathway means that microplastics and nanoplastics settling on leafy vegetables from the air can change the plant's internal chemistry. Since lettuce is widely consumed raw, these metabolic changes raise questions about how microplastic-contaminated produce might affect nutritional quality and human health.
Micro plastic driving changes in the soil microbes and lettuce growth under the influence of heavy metals contaminated soil
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Researchers studied how microplastics interact with heavy metals in contaminated soil and their combined effects on lettuce growth and soil bacteria. Different types of microplastics altered soil chemistry and changed which microbes thrived, sometimes making heavy metals more available to plants. The study suggests that microplastic-contaminated agricultural soil could affect both the safety and nutritional quality of leafy vegetables that people eat.
Effects of polyethylene microplastic on the phytotoxicity of di-n-butyl phthalate in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. ramosa Hort)
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Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics interact with the chemical pollutant di-n-butyl phthalate in lettuce and found that microplastics altered the plant's response to the toxin. The combination reduced photosynthesis, lowered chlorophyll content, and disrupted the plant's antioxidant defenses. The study highlights that microplastics in soil can change how plants respond to other contaminants, potentially compounding environmental harm.
Effects of Soil Microplastics on Plant Growth and Soil Health
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A greenhouse experiment found that polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics at increasing concentrations reduced lettuce biomass, altered soil microbial activity, and changed soil structure and water retention, with effects more pronounced at higher MP concentrations.
Effects of polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene microplastics on the soil-rhizosphere-plant system: Phytotoxicity, enzyme activity, and microbial community
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Researchers tested how three common types of microplastics (polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene) affect lettuce growth and soil health. All three types inhibited plant growth, disrupted antioxidant systems in the leaves, and altered the microbial communities in the soil around roots, with polystyrene and polypropylene causing the most disturbance.
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