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Exposure to polyethylene terephthalate microplastics induces reprogramming of flavonoids metabolism and gene regulatory networks in Capsicum annuum
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Researchers exposed pepper seedlings to PET microplastics and found that the particles significantly disrupted the plants' production of flavonoids, which are beneficial compounds that protect both the plant and human consumers. The microplastics altered gene activity in pathways responsible for flavonoid production, reducing the nutritional quality of the peppers. This suggests that microplastic-contaminated soil could lower the health benefits of vegetables people eat, even when the plants appear to grow normally.
Micro/Nano-plastics (M/NPs) have emerged as a globally concerning pollutant. However, research on the phytotoxicity of M/NPs on plant secondary metabolism and the underlying molecular mechanisms is still limited. Pepper, a widely cultivated vegetable, is rich in flavonoids, which are a class of important secondary metabolites found throughout the plant kingdom with multiple biological functions. In this study, we conducted a detailed assessment of the physiological toxicity of Polyethylene Terephthalate microplastics (PET-MPs) on the growth of pepper seedlings. Results showed that PET-MPs significantly inhibited pepper growth, particularly root development. Moreover, PET-MPs exposure resulted in a burst of ROS, causing oxidative damage. KEGG pathways analysis illustrated that PET-MPs significantly altered the flavonoid biosynthesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways at both the metabolome and transcriptome levels. Weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) identified ten structural genes and nine transcription factor genes that play pivotal roles in regulating flavonoid biosynthesis. In summary, this study elucidates the alterations in the flavonoid composition, along with the underlying gene regulatory network governing flavonoid metabolism under PET-MPs exposure in pepper. These findings enhance our comprehension of MPs pollution and provide valuable insights for the development of sustainable agro-ecosystems and food security in the future.
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Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics Induce More Pronounced Physiological and Molecular Responses in Pepper Plants than Polyethylene: Insights from Physiological, Transcriptomic, and Metabolomic Perspectives
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Scientists found that two common plastic types, PE and PET, harm pepper plants by stunting growth and disrupting their natural defense chemicals, with PET (used in bottles and food packaging) causing more damage than PE. Since these plastics are accumulating in farm soils, this raises concerns about crop health and food quality, though more research is needed to understand direct effects on human health.
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Growing chilli peppers in soil contaminated with five different microplastic types — including PVC, PS, HDPE, LDPE, and PET — significantly reduced nutritional quality, with PVC causing the greatest losses in protein, vitamins A and B6, and fatty acids. This research demonstrates a direct pathway by which soil microplastic pollution could degrade the nutritional value of food crops, with implications for food security and human health.
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Scientists growing peppers in cadmium-contaminated soil found that adding tiny plastic particles (microplastics) actually reduced how much of this toxic heavy metal ended up in the edible fruit—at high plastic levels, cadmium dropped below unsafe limits. However, this came with a tradeoff: high microplastic levels also stressed the plants and disrupted their internal chemistry, meaning the fruit may be lower in cadmium but the plant's overall health and nutritional quality could suffer. This suggests soil pollution problems are more complex than previously thought, since different contaminants can interact in ways that both
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Researchers grew tomato plants in soil containing environmentally realistic levels of PET and PVC microplastics and found mixed effects on plant productivity and fruit quality. While some growth parameters were affected, the microplastics also altered the mineral content of the tomatoes. This study suggests that microplastics in agricultural soil could change the nutritional profile of the food we eat.
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Researchers exposed the fast-growing plant Brassica rapa (related to turnip and cabbage) to polyethylene microplastics that had been degraded by sunlight, finding that the plastics stunted plant growth by up to 51% and triggered cellular stress responses. Genetic analysis revealed the microplastics disrupted the plant's immune and growth pathways, providing insight into how plastic pollution in agricultural soil could affect food crops.
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