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Mitigating microplastic toxicity: How particle size and degrading bacteria influence Cucumis sativus L. seedlings
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Researchers tested how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes affect cucumber seedlings and whether adding plastic-degrading bacteria could reduce the damage. Surprisingly, large microplastic particles actually increased plant height and leaf area, while adding degrading bacteria further improved plant growth and enhanced beneficial soil microbial communities. The study suggests that biological degradation strategies using specialized bacteria could help mitigate microplastic pollution in agricultural settings.
Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in the environment and have an important impact on the ecosystem. However, there are fewer studies on the effects of microplastics and their degrading bacteria on crops. The aim of this study was to investigate the response mechanism of cucumber seedlings to a 5 ‰ concentration of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) treated with degrading bacteria. Surprisingly, the plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area of cucumber seedlings increased significantly by 17.19 %, 25.54 %, and 15.41 %, respectively, after the application of large PS-MP. The addition of a degrading bacterial mixture improved the agronomic traits of the cucumber seedlings to some extent. The application of small PS-MP and degrading bacteria significantly increased the soil organic carbon content, whereas the large PS-MP had the opposite effect (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, all treatments significantly increased soil microbial diversity and significantly reduced the abundance of Pseudomonas (P < 0.05). The PS-MPs treatment affected bacterial enzyme functions, including oxidoreductases, while the degrading bacteria enhanced reductase and hydratase functions. Transcriptome analysis further revealed that the PS-MPs treatment affected the biosynthesis process of cucumber seedlings, while treatment with degrading bacteria significantly increased root synthesis and metabolism in the plant. This study enhances understanding of PS-MPs pollution and shows that degrading bacteria, as bioremediation, hold potential for mitigating its adverse effects on plants and soil.
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[Effects of Three Different Types of Microplastics on Cucumber Growth and Nitrogen Utilization].
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Researchers conducted a greenhouse pot trial examining the effects of three different microplastic types on cucumber growth and nitrogen utilization, finding that MP presence in soil disrupts normal nitrogen uptake and plant development, with effects varying by polymer type.
The distribution and impact of polystyrene nanoplastics on cucumber plants
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Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics of four different sizes distribute within cucumber plants and affect root growth and fruit quality. They found that smaller particles accumulated more readily throughout the plant, moving from roots to leaves and fruit, and caused greater disruption to root physiology. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination in agricultural soils could affect both crop development and food quality.
Uptake and ecotoxicity of microplastics of different particle sizes in crop species
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Researchers exposed seedlings of three crop species to small (0.2 µm) and large (1.0 µm) polystyrene beads and found that particle size did not affect fresh weight, but smaller particles caused significantly greater root length inhibition in cucumber compared to bean and sorghum.
Physiological response of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) leaves to polystyrene nanoplastics pollution
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Researchers exposed cucumber plants to polystyrene nanoplastics of four different sizes and found significant effects on photosynthesis, antioxidant systems, and sugar metabolism in the leaves. Smaller particles tended to reduce chlorophyll and photosynthetic activity, while larger particles triggered stronger oxidative stress responses. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination in farmland soils could impair crop growth through multiple biochemical pathways.
[Effects of Different Microplastics on Cucumber Seedling Growth and Soil Chemical Properties].
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Researchers found that "biodegradable" plastic particles in soil can actually harm cucumber seedlings by disrupting soil nutrients — with one type (called PCL) causing the most damage. This matters because it suggests that switching to biodegradable plastics isn't automatically a safe fix for plastic pollution, and it raises questions about how microplastics in farm soil could affect the food crops we eat.
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