We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Integrating microplastic research in sustainable agriculture: Challenges and future directions for food production
Summary
Researchers reviewed how microplastics interact with environmental stressors like heat, drought, and salinity to threaten crop health and food safety, finding that microplastics can increase toxic metal uptake in plants and alter growth — with risks likely to worsen as climate change intensifies.
In agroecosystems, plants are frequently subjected to a wide range of environmental stressors that have a substantial influence on plant physiology, crop performance, and food security. Abiotic stress responses to plant crop physiology and performance have been widely studied, but the co-occurrence of stressors, such as emerging contaminants (e.g., pharmaceuticals, plastic particles, or pesticides), combined with environmental conditions, remains understudied. Microplastics (MPs) have been identified as modifiers of plant physiology; therefore, these particles present a risk to the quality and safety of plant food production systems. One relevant question is how these emerging pollutants interact with the increasingly extreme environmental conditions of today. For example, evidence indicates that the interaction of MPs particles with elevated levels of ambient CO 2 can modify stomatal conductance. In addition, their interaction with high temperatures may induce increased oxidative stress, whereas drought conditions can adversely affect vegetative growth. Salinity has been shown to alter root development, and MP particles can enhance the adsorption of trace metals onto plant tissues, thereby compromising food safety and increasing health risks. Currently, the application of omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, offers novel insights into molecular mechanisms that enable the identification of specific biomarkers associated with MP exposure. Furthermore, machine learning algorithms can be employed to analyze complex datasets, enhancing our ability to predict the impacts of MPs on plant health and crop performance under different environmental conditions. These results are significant for agricultural practices and policy formulation. As the prevalence of MPs in the environment continues to escalate, policymakers should address the potential risks these contaminants constitute to food safety and agricultural sustainability. This review compiles and synthesizes the most recent evidence regarding the impact of various stressors on crop quality and performance, with a particular emphasis on the interactions involving different plastic particles present in the environment and evaluates their potential risks to food safety and environmental resilience. • Environmental stressors significantly impact plant physiology and food security. • Interactions of stressors with MPs threaten crop quality and nutrient uptake. • Microplastics increase trace metal distribution in plants. • No evidence exists on long-term damage from non-degradable plastics in agriculture. • The future on stressors and MPs compromise agroecosystem resilience.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Environmental levels of microplastics disrupt growth and stress pathways in edible crops via species-specific mechanisms
Researchers studied how environmentally realistic levels of microplastics affect the growth and stress responses of edible crops. The study found that microplastics disrupt plant growth and stress pathways through mechanisms that vary by crop species. These findings highlight the importance of understanding how different plants interact with microplastic particles when assessing risks to agricultural food production.
The role of microplastic pollution in the modification of the physicochemical properties of arable soil and uptake of potential toxic elements by plants
Researchers conducted a series of studies analyzing how microplastic pollution modifies the physicochemical properties of arable soil and affects the uptake of potentially toxic heavy metals by plants, beginning with a comprehensive literature review of microplastic interactions with plant physiology, metals, pesticides, and pathogens.
Micro and nanoplastics as emerging stressors influencing plant metabolism and nutrient dynamics
This review of existing research shows that tiny plastic particles in farm soil can get inside plants and change how they grow and absorb nutrients. When plants take up these microplastics, it could affect the nutritional quality of the fruits and vegetables we eat, potentially impacting our food safety. However, scientists still need more long-term studies to fully understand how serious this threat is to our food supply and health.
Microplastics and plant health: A comprehensive analysis of entry pathways, physiological impacts, and remediation strategies
This comprehensive review examines how microplastics enter plant systems, the physiological and biochemical impacts on plant health, and the implications for crop productivity and food safety, synthesizing evidence that MPs can reduce germination, growth, and nutritional quality in agricultural plants.
The effects of Micro/Nano-plastics exposure on plants and their toxic mechanisms: A review from multi-omics perspectives.
A multi-omics review of micro/nanoplastic effects on plants found that plastic exposure disrupts gene expression, protein function, and metabolic pathways across multiple plant systems, with potential consequences for crop yield and agricultural food safety.