Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastic Particles and Microplastic Leachate on the Germination and Growth of Lolium multiflorum

Researchers tested whether polypropylene microplastic particles and the chemicals they leach affect Italian ryegrass germination and growth. Both physical microplastic particles and their leachate reduced germination rates and seedling growth, suggesting that both the particles themselves and their chemical additives can harm terrestrial plants.

2020 Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene microplastics on the seed germination of herbaceous ornamental plants

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and concentrations affect seed germination of three ornamental plant species, finding that nanoscale particles at high concentrations significantly inhibited germination and early growth.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 150 citations
Article Tier 2

The Impact of Microplastic Concentration and Particle Size on the Germination and Seedling Growth of Pisum sativum L.

Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene microplastics at different sizes and concentrations on pea seed germination and seedling growth in hydroponic experiments. They found that microplastics significantly harmed germination, with low concentrations of the smallest particles showing particularly notable effects. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in agricultural environments may pose risks to crop development even at relatively low concentrations.

2024 Agronomy 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Risks of microplastics on germination and growth of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) depending on the type, concentration, and particle size

Researchers tested how different types, concentrations, and sizes of microplastics affect pepper seed germination and seedling growth. They found that most microplastic treatments inhibited germination and that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles were generally the most harmful to seedling development. The study also revealed that larger microplastic particles tended to cause more oxidative stress in the plants, suggesting particle size plays an important role in toxicity.

2025 Environmental Technology & Innovation 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure of Bromus hordeaceus to fossil- and plant-based micro- and nanoplastics: Impacts and plant-plastic interactions vary depending on polymer type and growth phase

Experiments with the grass Bromus hordeaceus showed that both fossil-based polyethylene and plant-based PBAT micro- and nanoplastics affected seed germination and plant development, with polymer type and growth phase determining the nature and magnitude of effects.

2024 Chemosphere
Article Tier 2

[Effects of Microplastics on the Growth, Physiology, and Biochemical Characteristics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)].

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.

2019 PubMed 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating the Impact of Microplastics Type of Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and Polystyrene on Seed Germination and Early Growth of Rice Plants

Researchers investigated how three common types of microplastics, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, affect rice seed germination and early seedling growth. They found that microplastic exposure altered root development and shoot growth, with the effects varying by polymer type. The study raises concerns about how microplastic-contaminated agricultural soils could affect staple crop establishment and food production.

2024 Environmental Quality Management 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics on Germination and Seedlings Growth of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Researchers tested the effects of different microplastics on wheat seed germination and seedling growth and found that all treatments reduced plant development compared to controls. Polythene-containing microplastic treatments had the most negative impact, with significant reductions in both shoot and root length across wheat varieties.

2026 Journal of Bio-Science
Article Tier 2

Effect of Microplastics on the Germination and Growth of Terrestrial Plants

This review summarized studies on the effects of microplastics on the germination and growth of terrestrial plants, finding generally negative effects at high concentrations including reduced germination rates and root length. Effects varied by plant species, polymer type, and particle size, and the review highlighted limited data from realistic field exposures.

2022 Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure of Bromus hordeaceus to fossil- and plant-based micro- and nanoplastics: Impacts and plant-plastic interactions vary depending on polymer type and growth phase

Experiments with the grass Bromus hordeaceus showed that both fossil-based polyethylene and plant-based PBAT micro- and nanoplastics affected seed germination and plant development, with impacts varying by polymer type and growth phase.

2024 PubData
Systematic Review Tier 1

Nano- and microplastics commonly cause adverse impacts on plants at environmentally relevant levels: A systematic review

Systematic review of 78 studies found that nano- and microplastics commonly cause adverse effects on plants even at environmentally relevant concentrations, with germination and root growth more strongly affected than shoot growth during early development. Chlorophyll levels were consistently reduced while stress indicators (ROS) and antioxidant enzymes were consistently upregulated across species.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 100 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics on the growth of plants and seed germination in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

This review examined the effects of microplastics on plant growth and seed germination in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, finding that microplastic presence can affect plant development through multiple mechanisms depending on polymer type, concentration, and the composition of the growing medium.

2021 SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología 42 citations
Article Tier 2

The absorption, immobilization, and response mechanism of Leymus chinensis to microplastics and nanoplastics

Researchers exposed sheepgrass (Leymus chinensis) to 50 nm and 20 μm PMMA particles, finding that both sizes negatively affected photosynthesis, antioxidant enzyme activity, and root growth, with nanoplastics generally causing more severe physiological disruption.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Effects of Polyamide Microplastics with Different Concentrations on Cotton Seed Germination and Seedling Growth

Researchers exposed cotton seedlings to polyamide microplastics at varying concentrations, finding dose-dependent inhibition of seed germination and seedling growth, adding cotton to the list of staple agricultural crops susceptible to microplastic phytotoxicity.

2025
Article Tier 2

Three typical microplastics affect the germination and growth of amaranth (Amaranthus mangostanus L.) seedlings

Researchers exposed amaranth seeds to three types of microplastics -- polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene -- and found that the effects on germination and growth varied by plastic type, concentration, and particle size. Polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics inhibited shoot growth, while polypropylene caused the most root damage through reactive oxygen species accumulation. The study provides evidence that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils may pose risks to crop development.

2022 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 44 citations
Review Tier 2

Unveiling the effect of microplastics on agricultural crops – a review

This review examines how microplastics affect agricultural crops, covering impacts on seed germination, root growth, photosynthesis, and overall plant health. Most studies focused on polystyrene and polyethylene under controlled lab conditions, and the effects varied widely depending on plastic type, size, and concentration. The authors stress that more field-based research is needed to understand how microplastics actually behave in real farming environments.

2023 International Journal of Phytoremediation 16 citations
Review Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics on Higher Plants: A Review

This review examines how microplastics affect higher plants, covering impacts on seed germination, root growth, photosynthesis, and nutrient uptake, while highlighting the role of plastic type, size, and concentration in determining phytotoxicity.

2022 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 136 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polyethylene microplastics with different particle sizes on photosynthesis,biomass and root characteristics of maize seedlings

Researchers tested two sizes of polyethylene microplastics (13 μm and 150 μm) on maize seedlings in soil pot experiments and found size-dependent effects on photosynthesis, biomass, and root characteristics, with smaller particles generally causing greater physiological disruption.

2025 ACTA AGRICULTURAE UNIVERSITATIS JIANGXIENSIS
Article Tier 2

Effects of Polyethylene and Polystyrene Microplastics on Oat (Avena sativa L.) Growth and Physiological Characteristics

Researchers conducted pot experiments exposing oat seedlings to polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics at four concentrations and measured effects on growth and physiological parameters. Both particle types reduced shoot and root biomass in a dose-dependent manner, with polystyrene microplastics causing greater physiological disruption, particularly to chlorophyll content and antioxidant enzyme activity.

2025 Plants
Article Tier 2

Effects of different sizes of microplastic particles on soil respiration, enzyme activities, microbial communities, and seed germination

Researchers tested how six different sizes of polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics affect soil health, including respiration, enzyme activity, microbial communities, and seed germination. They found that smaller particles generally had stronger effects, boosting soil respiration while altering microbial diversity, and that the smallest polyethylene particles significantly reduced seed germination rates. The findings suggest that as microplastics break down into smaller pieces in soil, their ecological impact may intensify.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) on seed germination and seedling growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Researchers exposed wheat seeds and seedlings to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that while germination rates were unaffected, root growth increased significantly compared to controls. However, the nanoplastics were taken up by the roots and transported to the shoots, reducing micronutrient absorption and altering key metabolic pathways related to energy and amino acid production. The findings suggest that nanoplastics can fundamentally change how crop plants grow and process nutrients.

2019 Journal of Hazardous Materials 667 citations
Article Tier 2

The dosage- and size-dependent effects of micro- and nanoplastics in lettuce roots and leaves at the growth, photosynthetic, and metabolomics levels

Researchers studied the effects of polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics on lettuce plants, varying both particle size and concentration. They found that particle size played a pivotal role in influencing plant growth, photosynthetic activity, and metabolic processes, with nanoplastics generally causing more pronounced effects than larger microplastics. The study suggests that the smallest plastic particles pose the greatest risk to crop health by disrupting plant physiology at multiple levels.

2024 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Lolium multiflorum germination and growth affected by virgin, naturally, and artificially aged high-density polyethylene microplastic and leachates

Researchers found that virgin, naturally aged, and artificially aged high-density polyethylene microplastics and their leachates negatively affected Lolium multiflorum germination and growth, with aged microplastics and their chemical leachates showing greater phytotoxicity than virgin particles.

2022 Frontiers in Environmental Science 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Sowing in Plastic Contaminated Soils: How (Micro)plastics Impact Seed Germination and Growth of White Mustard (Sinapis alba L.)

Laboratory and pot experiments with white mustard (Sinapis alba) exposed to low-density polyethylene microplastics found dose-dependent inhibition of seed germination, root development, and shoot growth, with higher MP concentrations causing greater plant stress.

2025 Applied Sciences 3 citations