Physiological response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) leaves to polystyrene nanoplastics pollution

Microplastics pollution in farmlands has become a major concern. However, few studies have assessed the effects of microplastics on higher plants. In this study, we investigated the influence of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs, 50 mg L), with four different particle sizes (100, 300, 500, and 700 nm), on the physiological and biochemical indexes of cucumber leaves. The biomass of cucumber plants significantly decreased after exposure to 300 nm PSNPs. Similarly, the chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, soluble sugar, carotenoid, and proline content, as well as the fluorescence of cucumber leaves were significantly reduced by 100 nm PSNPs. Malondialdehyde, proline, peroxidase gene expression and enzyme activity, and hydrogen peroxide content significantly increased in cucumber leaves exposed to 700 nm PSNPs. In addition, increasing PSNPs particle size led to decreased relative expression levels and activities of the major antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, while vitamin C and soluble protein content significantly increased. Overall, our results indicated that PSNPs affect the photosynthetic, antioxidant, and sugar metabolism systems of cucumber leaves, with the latter clearly affecting the total biomass of cucumber plants. The benzene ring resulting from the degradation of PSNPs in cucumber leaves may be the main factor affecting chlorophyll metabolism and sugar metabolism. Our findings provide a scientific basis for the risk assessment of PSNPs exposure in soil-plant systems.