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Navigating microplastic-induced stress in plants: adaptations from physiology to gene regulation
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A bibliometric analysis of 84 studies (2017-2025) found that microplastic exposure in plants triggers stress pathway upregulation, reduces seed germination by up to 20%, disrupts nutrient uptake, and elevates antioxidant enzyme activity. These plant-level disruptions matter for human health because microplastic contamination of agricultural systems can degrade food quality, reduce crop yields, and create exposure pathways through the vegetables and grains people eat.
The growing concern about microplastic (MP) pollution and its impact on plant systems is reaching alarming levels due to the increase in plastic production and the resulting environmental degradation. Therefore, we explored bibliometric trends of physiological and molecular responses of plants to MP-induced stress, covering sources, interactions, and inconsistencies in research findings. We used bibliometric analysis (n = 84) from 2017–2025 to identify global research trends in plant–MP interactions, integrating mechanistic insights into physiological and molecular responses across species. Data reveals a high scientific publication growth rate (19.84%) in plant-MP studies between 2017 and 2025, culminating in 2024, driven by global pollution awareness. Research priorities primarily focus on understanding impacts on growth, stress responses, and toxicity, as indicated by the most frequent keywords, while critical areas like cellular interactions does not get enough attention. The dominance of environmental journals in the area and strong international co-authorship (29.59%) confirms the topic’s interdisciplinary nature and global research effort. The literature provides a holistic understanding showing that the MP exposure triggers upregulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway (up to 60% increase in phenolic compounds), disrupts nutrient uptake and water transport reduces seed germination (20% decrease at 200 mg/kg), and elevates ABA levels (up to 40% increase) and, often exhibit increased ROS production indicating a clear stress response varying based on plant species and MP characteristics. This review dissects the bibliometric data to identify key research gaps, propose potential solutions, and suggest avenues for improving plant MP stress tolerance. Further research into the long-term ecological consequences of plant-MP interactions might pave the way for sustainable strategies to mitigate the detrimental effects of prolonged MP pollution on plant ecosystems and ensure food security.
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