We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Ultrastructural and Proteomic Analyses Revealed the Mechanism by Which Foliar Spraying of Se Nanoparticles Alleviated the Toxicity of Microplastics in Pistia stratiotes L.
Summary
Foliar application of selenium nanoparticles to the aquatic plant Pistia stratiotes alleviated toxicity from polyethylene nanoplastics, with ultrastructural and proteomic analyses revealing that selenium nanoparticles protected photosynthetic machinery and antioxidant systems.
The uptake and accumulation of nanoplastics by plants have emerged as a major research focus. Exogenous selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are widely used to mitigate the toxicity of abiotic stresses, such as nanoplastics (NPs) and polyethylene (PE-NPs) nanoplastics, and represent a feasible strategy to enhance plant performance. However, the molecular mechanisms by which SeNPs alleviate the phytotoxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics remain poorly defined. To address this gap, we used Pistia stratiotes L. (P. stratiotes) as a model and silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) as a comparator, integrating physiological assays, ultrastructural observations, and proteomic analyses. We found that NP stress caused ultrastructural damage in root tips, exacerbated oxidative stress, and intensified membrane lipid peroxidation. SeNPs treatment significantly mitigated NP-induced oxidative injury and metabolic suppression. Compared to the NPs group, SeNPs increased T-AOC by 38.2% while reducing MDA and ·OH by 33.3% and 89.6%, respectively. Antioxidant enzymes were also elevated, with CAT and POD rising by 47.1% and 39.2%. SeNPs further enhanced the photosynthetic capacity and osmotic adjustment, reflected by increases in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and soluble sugar by 49.7%, 43.8%, and 27.0%, respectively. In contrast, proline decreased by 17.4%, indicating stress alleviation rather than an osmotic compensation response. Overall, SeNPs outperformed SiO2NPs. These results indicate that SeNPs broadly strengthen anti-oxidative defenses and metabolic regulation in P. stratiotes, effectively alleviating NP-induced oxidative damage. Proteomics further showed that SeNPs specifically activated the MAPK signaling cascade, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and energy metabolic pathways, enhancing cell-wall lignification to improve the mechanical barrier and limiting NPs translocation via a phytochelatin-mediated vacuolar sequestration mechanism. SiO2NPs produced similar but weaker alleviative effects. Collectively, these findings elucidate the molecular basis by which SeNPs mitigate NPs' phytotoxicity and provide a theoretical foundation and practical outlook for using nanomaterials to enhance phytoremediation in aquatic systems.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Revealing the Selenium-Mediated Regulatory Mechanisms of P. stratiotes in Response to Nanoplastics Stress from Multiple Perspectives of Transcriptomics, Metabolomics, and Plant Physiology
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) seriously damage water plants by disrupting their ability to make food from sunlight and causing harmful stress inside their cells. However, when researchers added selenium (a natural mineral) to the water, it helped protect the plants from plastic damage by boosting their natural defense systems. This research could help us clean up plastic pollution in lakes and rivers, which is important since these water sources can affect human health through drinking water and food chains.
Dual-Stress Mitigation of Sclerotinia under Microplastic Toxicity by Nano-Selenium: Redox Balance, Pathogen Suppression, and Transcriptome Reprogramming
Researchers investigated whether selenium nanoparticles could protect rapeseed plants from combined stress caused by microplastics and the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia. The study found that selenium nanoparticles improved photosynthesis, reduced oxidative damage, and showed strong antifungal activity, suggesting they may help mitigate microplastic-induced phytotoxicity and fungal disease in agricultural settings.
Selenium-driven trophic restructuring of soil nematode communities and biochemical regulation alleviate the toxicity caused by microplastic pollution in highland barley
Researchers investigated whether selenium supplementation could counteract the harmful effects of polyethylene microplastics on highland barley and soil nematode communities. They found that microplastics significantly reduced plant growth metrics and disrupted nematode populations, but selenium application helped restore chlorophyll content, root development, and beneficial soil organism diversity. The study suggests that selenium may serve as a practical tool for mitigating microplastic-induced damage in agricultural soils.
Dual-Stress Mitigationof Sclerotinia under MicroplasticToxicity by Nano-Selenium: Redox Balance, Pathogen Suppression, andTranscriptome Reprogramming
Researchers tested whether selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) could protect rapeseed plants from the combined stress of microplastic contamination and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum fungal infection. SeNPs improved seed germination, reduced oxidative damage, and altered gene expression to restore redox balance — largely reversing the dual stress effects.
Selenium alleviates the adverse effects of microplastics on kale by regulating photosynthesis, redox homeostasis, secondary metabolism and hormones
Researchers found that treating soil with selenium could protect kale plants from the harmful effects of microplastic contamination. Microplastics triggered damaging oxidative stress in the plants, but selenium helped restore the balance by boosting antioxidant defenses, improving photosynthesis, and regulating plant hormones. This suggests selenium supplementation could help maintain food crop health in microplastic-contaminated agricultural soils.