We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Polystyrene nanoplastics induce cell type-dependent secondary wall reinforcement in rice (Oryza sativa) roots and reduce root hydraulic conductivity
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics penetrating rice roots trigger a cell-type-specific defense response in which the plant reinforces its secondary cell walls with lignin and suberin in key barrier tissues, increasing wall thickness by up to 22% while simultaneously reducing the root's ability to absorb water by nearly 15%.
Nanoplastics (NPs) have been demonstrated the ability to penetrate plant roots and cause stress. However, the extent of NPs penetration into various root tissues and the corresponding plant defense mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined the penetration and accumulation patterns of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in different cell types within rice roots, and explored how the roots quickly modify their cell wall structure in response. The findings showed that fully developed sclerenchyma cells in rice roots effectively prevented the invasion of PS-NPs. Meanwhile, PS-NPs triggered the accumulation of lignin and suberin in specific cells such as the exodermis, sclerenchyma, and xylem vessels. PS-NPs at a concentration of 50 mg L increased cell wall thickness by 18.6 %, 21.1 %, and 22.4 % in epidermis, exodermis, and sclerenchyma cells, respectively, and decreased root hydraulic conductivity by 14.8 %. qPCR analysis revealed that PS-NPs influenced the cell wall synthesis pathway, promoting the deposition of lignin and suberin monomers on the secondary wall through the up-regulation of genes such as OsLAC and OsABCG. These results demonstrate that PS-NPs can induce cell type-specific strengthening of secondary walls and barrier formation in rice roots, suggesting the potential role of plant secondary wall development in mitigating NPs contamination risks in crops.
More Papers Like This
From stress to defense: Spatial confinement of nanoplastics in rice root cell walls via pectin matrix remodeling
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers showed that rice roots defend against nanoplastic intrusion by rapidly increasing pectin content in cell walls by 65%, which traps nearly half the nanoplastics within root tissue and stiffens cell walls to suppress upward transport to edible shoots.
The impact of polystyrene nanoplastics on lignin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed Arabidopsis plants to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles penetrate root tissues and trigger a concentration-dependent buildup of lignin — the structural polymer that stiffens plant cell walls — as a defensive stress response, accompanied by increased oxidative damage markers and upregulation of lignin-biosynthesis genes.
When Nano- and Microplastics Meet Taro (Colocasia esculenta) Roots: Their Size-Dependent Adsorption, Penetration, and Promotion on Secondary Wall Reinforcement
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed taro plants to different sizes of plastic particles and found that nanoplastics (50-100 nm) could penetrate root cells while larger microplastics (200-500 nm) could not. In response, the taro roots mounted a defense by thickening their cell walls by over 100%, successfully preventing the plastics from reaching the edible corm, which suggests some food crops may have natural defenses against plastic contamination in soil.
Molecular mechanisms of toxicity and detoxification in rice (Oryza sativa L.) exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics affect rice seedlings at the molecular level. They found that nanoplastic exposure significantly reduced root and shoot growth by over 50%, while triggering oxidative stress and activating genes related to both toxicity and defense responses. The study provides new insights into how crop plants respond to nanoplastic contamination at the genetic and physiological level.
Polystyrene nanoplastics affect seed germination, cell biology and physiology of rice seedlings in-short term treatments: Evidence of their internalization and translocation
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics were absorbed by rice roots and translocated to shoots, impairing seed germination, seedling growth, and cell division while disrupting reactive oxygen species homeostasis in short-term treatments.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.