We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Stress response to nanoplastics with different charges in Brassica napus L. during seed germination and seedling growth stages
AI summary Read the abstract
Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics at 200 mg/L significantly reduced seed germination, root elongation, biomass, photosynthesis, and essential nutrient uptake in rapeseed, with positively charged PS-NH2 particles producing the strongest toxic effects across all measured parameters. These findings demonstrate that nanoplastic surface charge is a key determinant of phytotoxicity, raising concerns about crop yield and food quality in farmlands contaminated by nanoplastic runoff.
Nanoplastic pollution has become a significant problem in farmland systems worldwide. However, research on the effects of nanoplastics (NPs) with different charges on field crops is still limited. In our study, NPs with different charges, including unmodified polystyrene nanoplastics (PS), positively charged polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NH2), and negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-SO3H), were investigated for their impacts on seed germination and seedling growth of rape. The results showed that seed water uptake (after 12 h), seed germination, seed vigour, and relative root elongation were all significantly reduced under exposure to NPs (200 mg/L). Similarly, remarkable decreases in plant biomass (root weight, shoot weight), growth (root length, plant height), photosynthesis ability (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids), essential nutrient uptake (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu), and plant quality (soluble protein, soluble sugar, crude fibre content) of rape seedlings were also observed after exposure to NPs. Among the three kinds of NPs, PS-NH2 showed stronger effects. Moreover, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities of rape seedlings were changed, and the content of malondialdehyde was significantly increased under exposure to NPs. Furthermore, positively charged PS-NH2 showed stronger effects on the phenotype, physiology, biochemistry, nutrient uptake, and plant quality of rape. Notably, a comprehensive toxicity evaluation revealed that PS-NH2 had the strongest toxicity to rape. The present study provides important implications for the interaction and risk assessment of NPs and crops in soil-plant systems.
More Papers Like This
Micro- and Nanoplastics on Plant Functionalities
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how micro- and nanoplastics affect plant physiology and function — including germination, root growth, photosynthesis, and nutrient uptake — across a range of crop and wild plant species. Plant uptake of plastic particles is a key mechanism by which microplastic contamination moves from soil into the human food supply, making these effects central to understanding dietary exposure risks.
Differentially charged nanoplastics demonstrate distinct accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed Arabidopsis thaliana plants to positively and negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics and found that charge determined accumulation patterns, with positively charged particles penetrating deeper into root and leaf tissues than negatively charged ones.
Physiological and Biochemical Effects of Polystyrene Micro/Nano Plastics on Arabidopsis Thaliana
Nanoplastics in agriculture: an opinion on their effects on tomato crop
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed evidence on how nanoplastics affect tomato crops across germination, growth, fruit development, and gene expression, finding dose- and size-dependent inhibition of germination rates, photosynthesis, and yield while also observing epigenetic modifications and transcriptomic responses that parallel stress-induced cellular damage.
Do differentially charged nanoplastics affect imidacloprid uptake, translocation, and metabolism in Chinese flowering cabbage?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that positively charged nanoplastics inhibited plant growth and reduced imidacloprid translocation in Chinese flowering cabbage, while negatively charged nanoplastics accelerated pesticide accumulation in shoots, revealing charge-dependent interactions affecting food safety.
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.