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Comparative toxicological effects of traditional and biodegradable microplastics on pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): physiological and metabolomic insights

Environmental Research 2025 1 citation ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 53 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Xiao Yang, Rongchao Yang, Mangu Hu, Rongchao Yang, Rongchao Yang, Rongchao Yang, Yilan Cui, Rongchao Yang, Yilan Cui, Yilan Cui, Yueqin Zhang Yilan Cui, Yueqin Zhang, Mingzhu Guan, Yuejun Fu, Yuejun Fu, Mingzhu Guan, Mingzhu Guan, Xiao Yang, Mangu Hu, Yuejun Fu, Xiao Yang, Xiao Yang, Xiao Yang, Mangu Hu, Yilan Cui, Yilan Cui, Yilan Cui, Mangu Hu, Mangu Hu, Xiao Yang, Mangu Hu, Mangu Hu, Mingzhu Guan, Yuejun Fu, Yilan Cui, Mangu Hu, Yilan Cui, Yilan Cui, Yueqin Zhang Yilan Cui, Mangu Hu, Rongchao Yang, Yueqin Zhang Yueqin Zhang Yueqin Zhang Rongchao Yang, Yueqin Zhang, Yueqin Zhang, Xinming Tang, Yueqin Zhang, Yueqin Zhang, Yueqin Zhang Yueqin Zhang Yueqin Zhang Yueqin Zhang, Yueqin Zhang Yueqin Zhang, Yueqin Zhang, Yueqin Zhang Yueqin Zhang Yueqin Zhang, Yueqin Zhang, Yueqin Zhang

Summary

Researchers compared the toxicity of four traditional and two biodegradable microplastics on pepper plants over 60 days and found that all types inhibited growth, though through distinct mechanisms. Non-degradable polypropylene and polystyrene caused stronger growth inhibition, while biodegradable PBS microplastics triggered the most severe oxidative stress. Metabolomic analysis revealed that biodegradable and traditional microplastics each disrupt different metabolic pathways, challenging the notion that biodegradable plastics are inherently safer for agricultural ecosystems.

Polymers

PLA PP PS PVC

Microplastics (MPs), as emerging environmental contaminants, increasingly threaten plant performance in agricultural ecosystems, yet the differential toxicity of traditional and biodegradable MPs remains unclear. Here, we conducted a 60-day soil culture experiment to evaluate the effects of six MPs, four traditional polymers and two biodegradable plastics, on pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) at 0.1 % and 0.5 % (w/w). Growth inhibition occurred in a type- and dose-dependent manner, with non-degradable PP-MPs and PS-MPs exerting stronger effects than biodegradable MPs. PBS-MPs caused the most severe oxidative stress, increasing HO content by 205.4 %. Metabolomic analyses revealed metabolic reprogramming under MPs exposure, with flux shifting from photosynthetic carbon assimilation/glycolysis to the pentose phosphate pathway. Notably, PVC-MPs imposed stronger inhibition on carbon assimilation/glycolysis. Metabolomic analysis further revealed that oxidative stress was closely associated with metabolic reprogramming: biodegradable MPs (PLA, PBS) markedly disrupted aromatic amino acid biosynthesis (e.g., tyramine decreased by 73.8 %), thereby weakening the basis for antioxidant defense, whereas traditional PS-MPs specifically suppressed downstream phenylpropanoid metabolism (e.g., 4-hydroxycinnamic acid and sinapic acid decreased). Collectively, these findings demonstrate that biodegradable and traditional MPs induce phytotoxicity through distinct mechanisms: biodegradable MPs primarily trigger oxidative damage and perturb primary metabolism, whereas traditional MPs preferentially suppress energy metabolism and secondary defense pathways. This study provides mechanistic insights into MPs-induced stress responses in pepper and highlights potential risks of both traditional and biodegradable MPs to agroecosystem health.

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