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The phytotoxicity of microplastics to the photosynthetic performance and transcriptome profiling of Nicotiana tabacum seedlings
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Researchers grew tobacco seedlings in soil contaminated with polyethylene microplastics and found significant damage to their photosynthetic systems, including reduced chlorophyll content and impaired light-use efficiency. Gene analysis revealed that thousands of genes were affected, with 79 key genes related to photosynthesis being suppressed. The study provides new molecular-level evidence that soil microplastic pollution can directly harm how plants convert sunlight into energy.
Microplastics (MPs), as emerging "new generation" organic contaminants, have attracted extensive attention regarding their severe toxicity to aquatic and terrestrial organisms. However, the responses of plant photosynthesis to soil MP pollution are unclear. In this study, Nicotiana tabacum seedlings were grown in soils containing 0~1000 g·kg polyethylene (PE)-MPs for 48 days. PE-MPs significantly increased the superoxide anion content by 15.3~44.8% but decreased the chlorophyll content and Rubisco activity by 4.3~14.0% and 4.23~30.9%, respectively. PE-MPs also inhibited RuBP carboxylation activation and regeneration, restrained light use efficiency, and prevented dark respiration, thereby reducing the light-saturated photosynthesis rate. The changed shape of OJIP transients indicated that PE-MP toxicity inhibited not only the primary photochemistry rate but also photoelectrochemical quenching, resulting in decreased quantum yields. RNA-Seq revealed thousands of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), among which 79 highly expressed DEGs were enriched in photosynthesis-related processes. Functional annotation revealed that the reduction in environment stress was mainly due to the repressed expression of light harvesting-, electron transport- and photosystem-related genes in chloroplasts. This study regarding the physiological and molecular responses of photosynthetic performance to soil PE-MP pollution provides a new viewpoint for exploring the plant photosynthesis regulating and protective mechanisms under soil MP stresses.
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Unraveling the impact of nano-microscale polyethylene and polypropylene plastics on Nicotiana tabacum: Physiological responses and molecular mechanisms
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Researchers exposed tobacco plants to polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics of different sizes and found that both types suppressed plant growth in a dose-dependent manner, with polypropylene being more toxic. The microplastics disrupted photosynthesis, triggered oxidative stress, and altered hormone signaling and defense pathways in the plants. These findings demonstrate that microplastic contamination in soil can impair crop growth at the molecular level, potentially affecting agricultural productivity.
Transcriptomic data from the integrative transcriptomic and WGCNA-based analysis of combined stress mechanisms of polypropylene micro/nanoplastics on tobacco photosynthesis and antioxidant systems
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Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles (from a common plastic called polypropylene) affect tobacco plants, looking specifically at how these particles mess with the plants' ability to photosynthesize and defend themselves from stress at the genetic level. While this research was done in plants rather than humans, it adds to growing evidence that micro/nanoplastics can disrupt basic biological processes—which matters because these same tiny plastic particles are increasingly found in our food, water, and even our bodies.
Transcriptomic data from the integrative transcriptomic and WGCNA-based analysis of combined stress mechanisms of polypropylene micro/nanoplastics on tobacco photosynthesis and antioxidant systems
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Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles (from a common plastic called polypropylene) affect tobacco plants, looking at which genes turn on or off when the plants are exposed to this pollution. They found the plastic particles disrupt genes involved in photosynthesis and the plant's natural defense system against cell damage, meaning these plastics can stress plants at a genetic level, not just physically. Since these plants are part of the food chain, this research matters because it helps us understand how widespread microplastic pollution might affect crops and, eventually, food quality and safety.
Integrated physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolic analysis reveals the effects of nanoplastics exposure on tea plants
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Researchers used physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolic analysis to assess the effects of nano/microplastics on tea plants, finding impaired photosynthesis, oxidative stress, and disrupted metabolic pathways at environmentally relevant concentrations. The study highlights risks to tea crop safety and quality from plastic pollution in agricultural soils.
Impact of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastic on growth, photosynthesis and nutrient uptake of Solanum lycopersicum L. (Tomato)
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Adding PVC microplastics to soil reduced tomato plant growth, photosynthesis, and nutrient uptake in a dose-dependent manner, even though no visible damage appeared on the leaves. At the molecular level, the microplastics disrupted genes and proteins involved in photosynthesis and nutrient absorption. This matters for food safety because microplastics in agricultural soils could reduce crop yields and potentially enter the food supply.
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