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Nano- and Microplastics Increase the Occurrence of Bacterial Wilt in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
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This study found that tiny nano- and microplastic particles in soil made tomato plants significantly more vulnerable to bacterial wilt disease. The smallest nanoplastics (30 nm) more than doubled the disease rate by disrupting the plant's immune defenses and altering soil bacteria, raising concerns about how plastic pollution in farmland could threaten food crop health.
Concern over nano- and microplastic contamination of terrestrial ecosystems has been increasing. However, little is known about the effect of nano- and microplastics on the response of terrestrial ecosystems already under biotic stress. Here, nano- and microplastics at 150-500 mg·kg-1 were exposed to tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and the results demonstrate that the presence of nano- and microplastics increased the occurrence of bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum in tomatoes as a function of contaminant concentration, surface modification, and size. Our work shows that nanoplastics (30 nm, 250 mg·kg-1) increased the disease incidence by 2.19-fold. The disease severities in amino- and carboxyl-modified nanoplastic treatments were 30.4 and 21.7% higher than that in unmodified nanoplastic treatment, respectively. The severity of disease under the influence of different-sized nano- and microplastic treatments followed the order 30 > 100 nm > 1 > 50 μm. Mechanistically, nanoplastics disrupted the structure of the tomato rhizosphere soil bacterial community and suppressed the induced systemic resistance in tomato; nanoplastics in planta decreased the salicylic acid and jasmonic acid content in tomatoes, thus inhibiting systemic acquired resistance; and microplastics increased the soil water retention, leading to increased pathogen abundance in the rhizosphere. Additionally, the leachates from nano- and microplastics had no effect on disease occurrence or the growth of tomatoes. Our findings highlight a potential risk of nano- and microplastic contamination to agriculture sustainability and food security.
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This study tested how microplastic-contaminated soil affects tomato plant growth, finding that higher concentrations of plastic particles in soil reduced plant height, root development, and overall crop health. The results suggest that microplastic pollution in farmland could reduce food crop yields and potentially affect the quality of the produce we eat.
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Tiny plastic particles from pollution are seeping into farm soil and disrupting the natural microbes that help tomato plants absorb nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. This research found that different types of plastic (like those from packaging and pipes) throw off soil chemistry and bacterial activity in ways that could affect how healthy and nutrient-rich our food crops grow. While this study looked at soil, not food safety directly, it adds to growing evidence that microplastic pollution may be quietly affecting the food system from the ground up.
Impacts of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Tomato Crops: A Critical Review
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This review covers the impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics on tomato crops, documenting disruption at germination, root development, flowering, and fruit production stages. It also examines how these particles alter soil microbial communities and identifies priority research areas for understanding MP effects on major food crops.
Presence of High-Density Polyethylene Nanoplastics (HDPE-NPs) in Soil Can Influence the Growth Parameters of Tomato Plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) at Various Stages of Development
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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.
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