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Physiological responses of garden cress (L. sativum) to different types of microplastics
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Researchers tested the effects of four common types of microplastics on garden cress plants and found that PVC was the most toxic, causing the greatest oxidative stress and growth inhibition. Both acute and chronic exposure to microplastics affected seed germination, plant height, biomass, and levels of stress-response compounds in the plants. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that microplastics can trigger oxidative damage in terrestrial plants, with implications for agricultural ecosystems.
In this study, for the first time, acute and chronic toxicity caused by four different kinds of microplastics: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), and a commercial mixture (PE + PVC) on Lepidium sativum were evaluated. Parameters considered were: i) biometric parameters (e.g. percentage inhibition of seed germination, plant height, leaf number and fresh biomass productions); and ii) oxidative stress (e.g. levels of hydrogen peroxide, glutathione, and ascorbic acid). On plants exposed to chronic stress chlorophylls, carotenoids, aminolaevulinic acid, and proline productions were, also, evaluated. PVC resulted the most toxic than other plastic materials tested. This study represents the first paper highlighting microplastics are able to produce oxidative burst in tested plants and could represent an important starting point for future researches on biochemical effects of microplastic in terrestrial environments such as agroecosystems.
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Assessment of physiological stress on plants grown in soil contaminated with microplastics
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Researchers tested how three types of microplastics (PET, HDPE, and polyester) affect the growth and health of spring onion and okra plants. They found that all microplastic types reduced chlorophyll levels, increased oxidative stress, and stunted plant growth, with HDPE and polyester causing the most damage. The study highlights the potential ecological risks microplastics pose to vegetable crops grown in contaminated soil.
Toxicity of polyvinyl chloride microplastics on Brassica rapa
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Researchers exposed Brassica rapa plants to UV-weathered PVC microplastics and found significant growth inhibition, with stem length reduced by nearly 46% and root length by 35% after 30 days. The microplastic particles blocked leaf stomata and were observed entering the plant tissue, triggering stress responses including increased enzyme activity. The study suggests that microplastics in soil can physically and chemically interfere with normal plant development.
The bioplastic paradox: Biodegradable microplastics trigger species-specific nitro-oxidative stress and root growth inhibition in Brassicaceae
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Researchers compared how biodegradable microplastics induced oxidative and nitrosative stress in two Brassicaceae species (oilseed rape and garden cress), finding species-specific responses, with garden cress being more sensitive and showing irreversible protein nitration, suggesting biodegradable plastics are not inherently safer.
Effects of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics and acid rain on physiology and growth of Lepidium sativum
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Researchers studied the combined effects of PET microplastics and acid rain on garden cress plants over 30 days. They found that both stressors negatively affected plant growth, triggered oxidative stress, and disrupted photosynthetic pigment production, with smaller microplastic particles causing the most harm. The combination of microplastics and acid rain produced compounding negative effects on plant physiology, suggesting these co-occurring environmental stressors may together threaten plant health.
Physiological and biochemical effects of polystyrene micro/nano plastics on Arabidopsis thaliana
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Experiments on the model plant Arabidopsis showed that polystyrene nano- and microplastics reduced seed germination, stunted growth, lowered chlorophyll levels, and triggered oxidative stress in roots, with smaller particles and higher concentrations causing the most damage. These findings raise concerns about how microplastic contamination in agricultural soil could affect crop health and ultimately food production.
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