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Microplastics-induced plant stress in terrestrial ecosystems: Sources, transport, biological impacts, and remediation strategies
Summary
This review examines how microplastics enter and affect terrestrial ecosystems, noting that soil now harbors over 30% of global plastic waste. The study describes how microplastics are taken up by plants through roots and leaves, cause direct toxic, genotoxic, and indirect effects on plant growth, and interact with other soil contaminants, while also surveying remediation strategies and the use of machine learning for predicting microplastic effects.
• Soil now harbors over 30% of plastic waste in terrestrial ecosystems • Roots, leaves and soil microbiomes play main roles on microplastics entering plants • Microplastics have direct, genotoxic and indirect toxic effects on plant growth • Reducing addiction to plastic is most effective to mitigate microplastics pollution • Machine learning algorithms drive more accurate predictions of microplastics effects Microplastics (MPs, < 5 mm) have emerged as pervasive contaminants in terrestrial ecosystems, yet research on their behavior and impacts in these environments remains limited compared to aquatic systems. However, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding the mechanisms of MPs uptake and translocation in plants, their interactions with other soil contaminants, and the development of standardized detection and risk assessment methodologies. Addressing these gaps and advancing our mechanistic understanding of MPs in terrestrial ecosystems are critical priorities for future research and effective environmental management. This review systematically covers (1) the current status and sources of MPs pollution in soil ecosystems; (2) the migration, transformation, and fate of MPs in soils; (3) the biological effects of MPs on soil properties, microbial communities, and plant health; (4) the interactions of MPs with co-occurring pollutants; and (5) current strategies for pollution control, remediation, and enhancing plant resistance to MPs. The review also summarizes advances in detection and risk assessment and discusses how mechanism-based evidence (e.g., uptake/translocation pathways and oxidative and photosynthetic disruption) can inform policy and international cooperation to reduce soil-plant exposure. To effectively address MPs pollution in terrestrial ecosystems, future strategies should prioritize source reduction, process optimization, and the development of crop varieties with enhanced MPs resistance. Multi-omics approaches and predictive modelling are recommended to unravel the spatiotemporal dynamics and long-term impacts of MPs. Establishing global monitoring networks, advancing international policy frameworks, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration will be essential to developing green alternatives and intelligent remediation technologies, ultimately safeguarding soil health, crop productivity, and ecosystem sustainability.