0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Human Health Effects Policy & Risk Sign in to save

Nano-Titanium Dioxide Regulates the Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and Alleviates the Growth Inhibition Induced by Polylactic Acid Microplastics

Agriculture 2025 Score: 48 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Lisi Jiang, Lisi Jiang, Wenyuan Li, Yuqi Zhang, Zirui Liu, Yangwendi Yang, Lixin Guo, Chang Ming Guo, Zirui Yu, Wei Fu

Summary

Researchers found that nano-titanium dioxide alleviated the growth inhibition and oxidative stress that polylactic acid microplastics caused in radish roots, with transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis revealing nano-TiO2 stimulated the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway to enhance the plant's antioxidant defenses.

Polymers

Nano-titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) can alleviate oxidative damage in plants subjected to abiotic stress, interfere with related gene expression, and change metabolite content. Polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics can inhibit plant growth, induce oxidative stress in plant cells, and alter the biophysical properties of rhizosphere soil. In this study, untargeted metabolomics (LC-MS) and RNA-seq sequencing were performed on radish root cells exposed to nano-TiO2 and PLA. The results showed that nano-TiO2 alleviated the growth inhibition of radish roots induced by PLA. Nano-TiO2 alleviated PLA-induced oxidative stress, and the activities of SOD and POD were decreased by 28.6% and 36.0%, respectively. A total of 1673 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 844 upregulated genes, and 829 downregulated genes) were detected by transcriptome analysis. Metabolomics analysis showed that 5041 differential metabolites were involved; they mainly include terpenoids, fatty acids, alkaloids, shikimic acid, and phenylpropionic acid. Among them, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis as well as flavone and flavonol biosynthesis were the key metabolic pathways. This study demonstrates that nano-TiO2 mitigates PLA phytotoxicity in radish via transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. These findings provide important references for enhancing crop resilience against pollutants and underscore the need for ecological risk assessment of co-existing novel pollutants in agriculture.

Sign in to start a discussion.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

PolystyreneNanoplastics Compromise the NutritionalValue of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Researchers grew radishes in soil contaminated with polystyrene nanoplastics and found that NP exposure reduced vegetable nutritional quality by lowering vitamin C, anthocyanin, and antioxidant content while increasing oxidative stress markers in the edible portions.

Article Tier 2

Impact of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Agricultural Crops Performance: A Review of Efficacy and Mechanisms

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research; it reviews the effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on agricultural crop performance, focusing on photosynthesis enhancement and antimicrobial protection rather than plastic pollution.

Article Tier 2

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles alleviates polystyrene nanoplastics induced growth inhibition by modulating carbon and nitrogen metabolism via melatonin signaling in maize

Researchers found that titanium dioxide nanoparticles can help protect maize plants from the growth-inhibiting effects of polystyrene nanoplastics. The protective mechanism works through the plant hormone melatonin, which regulates carbon and nitrogen metabolism when the nanoparticles are present. The study suggests that certain nanoparticles could potentially be used as agricultural tools to help crops cope with nanoplastic contamination in soil.

Article Tier 2

PVC Inhibits Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) Seedling Growth by Interfering with Plant Hormone Signal Transduction and Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis

Researchers found that PVC nanoplastics significantly inhibited radish seedling growth by disrupting plant hormone signaling and a key pathway involved in building cell walls. Using multiple analytical approaches, they showed that the nanoplastics caused oxidative stress, altered gene expression, and changed the plants' metabolic profiles. The study raises concerns about the overlooked toxicity of PVC agricultural mulch as it breaks down into tiny plastic particles in farm soils.

Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Nanoplastics Compromise the Nutritional Value of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics accumulated in radish roots and peels, reducing the vegetable's nutritional quality by disrupting its metabolism at the genetic level. When the contaminated radish was put through a simulated human digestion process, the nanoplastics were released and could potentially be absorbed by the body. This study shows how nanoplastics in soil can reduce the nutritional value of crops and create a direct route of human exposure through everyday vegetables.

Share this paper