We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of Biodegradable Poly (Butylene Adipate‐Co‐Terephthalate) Microplastics on Grain Quality and Defense Mechanism of Wheat
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the effects of biodegradable PBAT microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations on wheat growth and grain quality in a soil pot experiment. PBAT MPs reduced grain protein content and activated defence mechanisms including antioxidant enzyme responses, suggesting impacts on grain nutritional quality.
ABSTRACT Biodegradable poly (butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) plastics are an important alternative to conventional plastics used in agriculture; PBAT microplastics (MPs) are found in agricultural soils. However, little is known about the effects of PBAT MPs on crop toxicity, especially on edible fruit. Here, the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of PBAT MPs on the growth, grain quality, and related molecular mechanisms of wheat were investigated using a soil pot experiment. The results showed that PBAT MPs inhibited wheat growth, damaged the root ultrastructure, and decreased mineral levels; these phenotypic effects are consistent with omics evidence showing downregulation of the TCA cycle metabolism and genes involved in metal ion binding. As a defense response to PBAT MPs, grain starch and protein levels decreased by 39.06% and 18.44%, respectively, whereas soluble sugar levels increased by 13.36%. These changes can be attributed to the downregulation of tryptophan metabolism and upregulation of galactose metabolism. The present results indicate the adverse effects of biodegradable MPs on crops, which may have beneficial implications for human dietary health and nutritional intake.
More Papers Like This
Effects and molecular mechanisms of polyethylene microplastic oxidation on wheat grain quality
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that oxidized polyethylene microplastics -- the kind that form as plastics break down in the environment -- reduced wheat grain quality more severely than fresh microplastics, affecting starch and protein content. The findings matter for human health because they suggest that aging plastic pollution in agricultural soils could lower the nutritional value of staple crops we rely on for food.
Unveiling the Effects of Polypropylene Microplastics (PP-MPs) on Growth Attributes and Antioxidant Defense System in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles from everyday items like food containers can harm wheat plants when present in soil at higher levels, stunting their growth and reducing important nutrients. This matters because wheat is a major food crop worldwide, and if microplastics continue building up in farmland soil, it could affect our food supply and the nutritional quality of foods we eat. The study shows that plastic pollution isn't just an ocean problem—it's also threatening the crops that feed us.
Negative effects of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) microplastics on Arabidopsis and its root-associated microbiome
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the effects of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) biodegradable microplastics on Arabidopsis thaliana and its root-associated microbiome, finding that PBAT-MPs at tested concentrations in agricultural soil caused negative impacts on plant growth and altered the composition of root-zone microbial communities.
Impact of microplastic residues from polyurethane films on crop growth: Unraveling insights through transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
Residual plastic films from coated fertilizers harmed wheat growth by disrupting energy metabolism in roots, with one type reducing plant height by nearly 25%. However, some bio-based polyester films triggered plant defense responses that offset the damage, suggesting that switching to certain biodegradable alternatives could reduce the microplastic-related risks to crop production and food safety.
[Effects of Microplastics on the Growth, Physiology, and Biochemical Characteristics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)].
AI summary Read the abstract
Wheat seedlings were grown in soils spiked with 100 nm and 5 μm polystyrene microplastics, with high concentrations (200 mg/L) significantly inhibiting root and stem elongation, reducing chlorophyll, and altering antioxidant enzyme activity, with smaller nanoplastics showing greater toxicity. The findings demonstrate that microplastic size influences phytotoxicity in a major agricultural crop.
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.