Mechanisms of Cigar Regulation Under Polyethylene Microplastic Stress Revealed by Combined Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis

Micro-/Nano-Plastics as Carriers of Heavy Metals to Exacerbate the Stress Response of Ciliates from Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Perspectives

Impact of microplastics on plants: a transcriptome analysis perspective

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This review examined how microplastic exposure disrupts plant biology at the transcriptome level, showing that species like Arabidopsis and maize exhibit differential expression of hundreds to thousands of genes affecting nutrient uptake, growth, and stress responses. Because these molecular disruptions can propagate through food webs, microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils represents a compounding threat to crop productivity and ecosystem stability.

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.

Deciphering the Dual Mechanisms of Soil Carbon Disturbance by Biodegradable and Conventional Microplastics: A Global Synthesis of Multi-Pathway Responses

Genomics and Proteomics Associated with Bioremediation of Microplastics

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Researchers are using genomics and proteomics to identify and engineer microbes and enzymes capable of breaking down microplastics in the environment, a field that holds promise for biological cleanup of plastic pollution. Understanding which genes and proteins drive plastic degradation could lead to targeted bioremediation strategies for soils and waterways contaminated with persistent plastic fragments.