We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Impact of microplastics from polyethylene and biodegradable mulch films on rice (Oryza sativa L.)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how microplastics from both conventional polyethylene and biodegradable mulch films affect rice growth. Both types of microplastics reduced plant height and weight, caused oxidative stress, inhibited photosynthesis, and altered gene expression related to nutrient uptake. This study is important because it shows that even biodegradable plastics can harm food crops, raising concerns about the quality and safety of rice grown in microplastic-contaminated agricultural soil.
Extensive use of plastic film mulch has resulted in accumulation of a large amount of residual plastic, which will eventually fragment into microplastics in agricultural soils. However, it is unclear how microplastics from plastic mulch film affect crops. To address this issue, rice plants exposed to microplastics derived from poly(butyleneadipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)-based biodegradable mulch film (BM) and polyethylene (PE) mulch film (PM) were investigated for plant growth, physio-biochemical processes, and gene expressions. Both types of microplastics significantly reduced the height and dry weight of rice plant. Oxidative stress was induced by microplastics in rice shoot and root, with levels of ROS relatively higher under treatment PM than that under treatment BM. Transcriptomic data showed that more genes were down-regulated by treatment PM than that by treatment BM. Genes encoding ammonium and nitrate transporters were down-regulated by both types of microplastics in rice roots at vegetative stage, whereas up-regulated at reproductive stage, as compared to their respective treatment with no microplastics (CK). Similar results regarding phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and lignin content were also observed in rice roots. Net photosynthetic rate and SPAD value were significantly inhibited by treatments BM and PM in rice shoot, and the expression of genes involved in light reaction was reduced at vegetative stage, whereas there were no differences of them at reproductive stage, as compared to their respective treatment CK. Our study suggests that microplastics from BM and PM both affect the growth of rice plants via nitrogen metabolism and photosynthesis. The negative effects imposed by both types of microplastics on rice plant can be mitigated with the growth of plants, and the negative effects of microplastics from PE mulch film on rice plant are relatively stronger than that from the PBAT-based biodegradable film.
More Papers Like This
Unveiling the detrimental effects of polylactic acid microplastics on rice seedlings and soil health
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that even biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics significantly harmed rice plants at high concentrations, reducing root and shoot weight by roughly half and disrupting photosynthesis, while also altering soil enzyme activity and bacterial communities. These findings challenge the assumption that biodegradable plastics are harmless to agriculture and raise questions about their impact on food crops that humans depend on.
Polylactic acid microplastics have stronger positive effects on the qualitative traits of rice (Oryza sativa L.) than polyethylene microplastics: Evidence from a simulated field experiment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that both polyethylene and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics in soil affected the quality of rice grains by changing their mineral content, fatty acid profiles, and amino acid levels. Interestingly, PLA microplastics had some positive effects on grain yield and weight, while PE microplastics more significantly disrupted the nutritional composition. This study shows that microplastic contamination in farm soil can alter the nutritional quality of rice, a staple food for billions of people, even when the plants appear to grow well.
Comparing the impact of microplastics derived from a biodegradable and a conventional plastic mulch on plant performance
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers directly compared how microplastics from biodegradable and conventional plastic mulch films affect plant growth and found that biodegradable plastic particles actually reduced plant biomass more than conventional plastic particles in some cases. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always safer for agriculture, since their breakdown products may still harm crops that end up in the human food supply.
From biodegradation to biohazard: Polylactic acid microplastics induced rice growth inhibition in agroecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested the effects of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, a type marketed as biodegradable, on rice growth in soil. They found that PLA microplastics inhibited rice development by reducing nitrogen availability, disrupting root bacteria, and releasing potentially harmful breakdown products. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics may not be as environmentally safe as assumed, particularly in agricultural settings.
Microplastics have rice cultivar-dependent impacts on grain yield and quality, and nitrogenous gas losses from paddy, but not on soil properties
AI summary Read the abstract
A pot experiment with different rice cultivars found that polyethylene microplastics affected grain yield, quality, and nitrogen cycling in a cultivar-dependent manner, indicating that genetic background modulates plant sensitivity to microplastic contamination. The findings have implications for agricultural management in regions where microplastic-contaminated soils are common.
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.