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Polyethylene nanoplastics affected morphological, physiological, and molecular indices in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
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Polyethylene nanoplastics in soil caused significant damage to tomato plants, including reduced growth, delayed flowering, lower fruit quality, and changes in DNA methylation patterns. Even at low concentrations, the nanoplastics triggered oxidative stress and altered gene expression in the plants. These findings raise concerns about food safety because nanoplastic contamination in farm soil could reduce both the yield and nutritional quality of tomatoes and potentially other food crops.
This study explored morphological, physiological, molecular, and epigenetic responses of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) to soil contamination with polyethylene nanoplastics (PENP; 0.01, 0.1, and 1 gkg soil). The PENP pollution led to severe changes in plant morphogenesis. The PENP treatments were associated with decreased plant biomass, reduced internode length, delayed flowering, and prolonged fruit ripening. Abnormal inflorescences, flowers, and fruits observed in the PENP-exposed seedlings support genetic changes and meristem dysfunction. Exposure of seedlings to PENP increased HO accumulation and damaged membranes, implying oxidative stress. The PENP treatments induced activities of catalase (EC1.11.1.6), peroxidase (EC1.11.1.7), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (EC4.3.1.24) enzymes. Soil contamination with PENP also decreased the net photosynthesis, maximum photosystem efficiency, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate. The nano-pollutant upregulated the expression of the histone deacetylase (HDA3) gene and R2R3MYB transcription factor. However, the AP2a gene was down-regulated in response to the PENP treatment. Besides, EPNP epigenetically contributed to changes in DNA methylation. The concentrations of proline, soluble phenols, and flavonoids also displayed an upward trend in response to the applied PENP treatments. The long-term exposure of seedlings to PENP influenced fruit biomass, firmness, ascorbate, lycopene, and flavonoid content. These findings raise concerns about the hazardous aspects of PENP to agricultural ecosystems and food security.
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Researchers grew tomato plants in soil spiked with high-density polyethylene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations, finding that the nanoplastics slowed germination, reduced root and shoot growth, and affected plant physiology at multiple developmental stages. Effects were dose-dependent and more pronounced at higher nanoplastic concentrations. As nanoplastics are now detected in agricultural soils through biosolid application and irrigation, this study raises concerns about the impact of nano-sized plastic contamination on food crop yields.
Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to Polyethylene Microplastic Exposure
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Tomato plants grown in soil mixed with polyethylene microplastics for six weeks showed stunted growth, shorter roots, less biomass, and lower chlorophyll levels as microplastic amounts increased. Plants also showed higher levels of stress related enzymes and cell damage markers, suggesting the microplastics caused physical stress and disrupted normal plant functioning.
Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on tomato plant growth, fruit yield and quality
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Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics affect tomato plant growth and fruit quality, finding that exposure reduced seedling biomass, impaired photosynthesis, and triggered oxidative stress. At higher concentrations, the nanoplastics inhibited mineral uptake and diminished fruit yield along with nutritional quality markers like vitamin C and lycopene. The study highlights that nanoplastic contamination in agricultural soils could pose a meaningful threat to food crop productivity and nutritional value.
Nanoplastics in agriculture: an opinion on their effects on tomato crop
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Researchers reviewed evidence on how nanoplastics affect tomato crops across germination, growth, fruit development, and gene expression, finding dose- and size-dependent inhibition of germination rates, photosynthesis, and yield while also observing epigenetic modifications and transcriptomic responses that parallel stress-induced cellular damage.
Nanoplastics Induce Transgenerational Impacts on Tomato Growth, Oxidative Stress, and Nutritional Quality
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Tiny plastic particles in soil (called nanoplastics, which come from breaking-down plastic waste) stunted tomato plant growth, delayed ripening, and reduced both the amount and nutritional quality of the fruit—and stressed the plants at a cellular level. Interestingly, the next generation of plants grown from these exposed tomatoes showed somewhat less damage, suggesting plants may partially adapt over generations, but the initial harm to crop yield and quality is still a concern as plastic pollution builds up in farmland soils. Since tomatoes are a staple food crop, this research is an early warning sign that
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