Papers

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Article Tier 2

Response of soybean (Glycine max L.) seedlings to polystyrene nanoplastics: Physiological, biochemical, and molecular perspectives

Researchers examined the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on soybean seedlings in a hydroponic experiment and confirmed that the nanoparticles were taken up by plant roots. The study found that nanoplastic exposure negatively affected growth, increased mineral content in roots and leaves, caused oxidative stress, and altered gene expression related to stress response and hormone signaling pathways.

2022 Environmental Pollution 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity effects of nanoplastics on soybean (Glycine max L.): Mechanisms and transcriptomic analysis

Researchers exposed soybean plants to polystyrene nanoplastics and observed inhibited stem and root growth, increased oxidative stress, and disrupted photosynthesis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that nanoplastics altered the expression of genes involved in plant stress responses, hormone signaling, and metabolic pathways. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination in agricultural soils could negatively affect crop growth and yield at the molecular level.

2022 Chemosphere 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioavailable concentration of aged polystyrene microplastics governs the phytotoxicity and metabolic reprogramming in soybean

Researchers prepared polystyrene microplastics with environmentally realistic aged characteristics via thermal annealing and tested their effects on soybean growth and metabolism. Aged microplastics caused greater phytotoxicity than pristine particles, altering multiple metabolic pathways in soybean, and the authors found that bioavailable particle concentration—rather than nominal soil concentration—was the key predictor of plant harm.

2025 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Molecular mechanisms of toxicity and detoxification in rice (Oryza sativa L.) exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics affect rice seedlings at the molecular level. They found that nanoplastic exposure significantly reduced root and shoot growth by over 50%, while triggering oxidative stress and activating genes related to both toxicity and defense responses. The study provides new insights into how crop plants respond to nanoplastic contamination at the genetic and physiological level.

2023 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene micro and nanoplastics attenuated the bioavailability and toxic effects of Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) on soybean (Glycine max) sprouts

Researchers studied how polystyrene micro and nanoplastics interact with the industrial pollutant PFOS in hydroponic soybean sprouts. They found that plastics actually adsorbed the PFOS and reduced its toxicity by making it less bioavailable, though nanoparticle uptake into plant tissue increased. The study offers new insights into how plastic particles can alter the behavior and risk of other environmental contaminants in agricultural systems.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrated physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic responses of maize (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) to nanoplastic-induced stress

Researchers exposed maize and soybean crops to polyethylene and polypropylene nanoplastics in soil and found that high concentrations suppressed plant growth and caused oxidative stress in both species. The nanoplastics accumulated in plant roots and disrupted normal gene activity and metabolism, with soybeans being more sensitive than maize. These findings raise concerns about food crop quality and safety as nanoplastic contamination of agricultural soil increases.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene microplastics on uptake and toxicity of phenanthrene in soybean

This study examined how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes affect soybean plants' uptake of the pollutant phenanthrene. Researchers found that microplastics reduced soybean roots' ability to absorb phenanthrene, but micron-sized particles caused more oxidative damage to roots than nano-sized ones, which paradoxically reduced pollutant uptake further. The study highlights that combined exposure to microplastics and organic pollutants can harm crop plants, with the specific effects depending on plastic particle size.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 145 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) on the physiology and molecular metabolism of corn (Zea mays L.) seedlings

Researchers exposed corn seedlings to polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes and measured effects on plant growth, photosynthesis, and molecular metabolism. They found that the nanoplastics accumulated in roots and disrupted antioxidant enzyme systems and metabolic pathways, though photosynthesis was relatively unaffected. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination in agricultural soils could subtly impair crop development at the molecular level.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 134 citations
Article Tier 2

Discrepancy of Growth Toxicity of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Soybean (Glycine max) and Mung Bean (Vigna radiata)

Researchers compared how polystyrene nanoplastics affect soybean and mung bean plants grown in water and found that both crops suffered root growth suppression, but through different biological pathways. Soybeans showed more oxidative stress at lower doses, while mung beans were more resilient and only showed significant damage at higher concentrations. The study reveals that different crop species can vary widely in their vulnerability to nanoplastic contamination.

2024 Toxics 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Physiobiochemical and transcriptional responses of tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.) to different doses of polystyrene nanoplastics

Researchers examined how different concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastics affect tobacco plant growth at both the physiological and molecular levels. They found that higher doses caused oxidative stress, reduced photosynthesis, and triggered significant changes in gene expression related to stress responses. The study reveals that nanoplastic toxicity in plants is dose-dependent and involves complex molecular mechanisms beyond simple physical damage.

2024 Industrial Crops and Products 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecotoxicity and genotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics on higher plant Vicia faba

Researchers exposed fava bean root tips to polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics and found reduced biomass, increased oxidative stress, and genetic damage in the plant cells. The smaller nanoplastic particles caused more severe effects than the larger microplastics. The study suggests that plastic particle contamination in soil may threaten plant health at the cellular and genetic level.

2019 Environmental Pollution 927 citations
Article Tier 2

The impact of polystyrene nanoplastics on lignin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.)

Researchers exposed Arabidopsis plants to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles penetrate root tissues and trigger a concentration-dependent buildup of lignin — the structural polymer that stiffens plant cell walls — as a defensive stress response, accompanied by increased oxidative damage markers and upregulation of lignin-biosynthesis genes.

2026 Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants
Article Tier 2

Response of rice (Oryza sativa L.) roots to nanoplastic treatment at seedling stage

Researchers exposed rice seedlings to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles were taken up by the roots, aided by water-transporting proteins in the plant. The nanoplastics triggered oxidative stress, reduced root length, and disrupted carbon metabolism and hormone production in the seedlings. The study raises concerns that nanoplastic contamination in agricultural soils could affect crop growth and potentially enter the human food supply through rice consumption.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 411 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce cell type-dependent secondary wall reinforcement in rice (Oryza sativa) roots and reduce root hydraulic conductivity

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics penetrating rice roots trigger a cell-type-specific defense response in which the plant reinforces its secondary cell walls with lignin and suberin in key barrier tissues, increasing wall thickness by up to 22% while simultaneously reducing the root's ability to absorb water by nearly 15%.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 14 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

Transport Dynamicsand Physiological Responses ofPolystyrene Nanoplastics in Pakchoi: Implications for Food Safetyand Environmental Health

Researchers tracked the transport and physiological responses of polystyrene nanoplastics in pakchoi (bok choy) plants, finding that nanoplastics were absorbed through roots and translocated to shoots where they disrupted chlorophyll production and reduced plant growth.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics affect seed germination, cell biology and physiology of rice seedlings in-short term treatments: Evidence of their internalization and translocation

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics were absorbed by rice roots and translocated to shoots, impairing seed germination, seedling growth, and cell division while disrupting reactive oxygen species homeostasis in short-term treatments.

2022 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 108 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics during transport and redistribution in distinct plant species: A combined split-root experiment and metabolomic analysis

Researchers used a split-root system to study how polystyrene nanoplastics travel through the root-shoot-root pathway and cause toxicity in cucumber and maize seedlings. The study found that nanoplastics inhibited growth in both exposed and unexposed roots, with cucumber showing greater sensitivity than maize, and metabolomic analysis revealed distinct disruptions in plant metabolism during nanoplastic transport and redistribution.

2026 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Soil-applied polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) remain cortically confined but trigger systemic oxidative and metabolic disruption in Zea mays L. seedlings

Researchers studied how soil-applied polystyrene nanoplastics affect maize seedlings across a range of concentrations. The study found that while the nanoparticles remained confined to root surface tissues and did not penetrate deeper vascular tissue, they still triggered systemic oxidative stress and widespread metabolic disruption in shoots, suggesting that root-localized stress can cascade into whole-plant effects.

2026 The Science of The Total Environment
Article Tier 2

Mechanistic insights into polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) mediated imbalance of redox homeostasis and disruption of antioxidant defense system leading to oxidative stress in black mustard (Brassica nigra L.)

Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics affect black mustard seedlings and found that exposure led to reduced plant height, lower biomass, and damaged cell membranes. The nanoplastics disrupted the plants' antioxidant defense systems, causing an imbalance in their ability to manage oxidative stress. The study highlights that nanoplastic pollution in soil could pose a meaningful threat to crop growth and plant health.

2025 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoparticles induce concerted response of plant defense mechanisms in plant cells

Researchers exposed plant cell cultures from wheat, barley, carrot, and tomato to polystyrene nanoparticles and found that the plastic particles triggered oxidative stress responses across all species. The defense mechanisms activated varied by plant species, exposure duration, and nanoplastic concentration, with tomato cells appearing most susceptible to damage. The study demonstrates that nanoplastics can induce chain reactions in plant defense systems, raising concerns about the impact of plastic pollution on crop health.

2023 Scientific Reports 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Evidence for the transportation of aggregated microplastics in the symplast pathway of oilseed rape roots and their impact on plant growth

Researchers discovered that polystyrene microplastics are absorbed by oilseed rape roots not as individual particles but as clumps, and they travel through the plant's living cell network into the root vascular system. The microplastics caused oxidative stress that affected photosynthesis and plant growth, though the plants activated defense mechanisms to partially cope. This study shows how microplastics can enter food crops through the roots, potentially introducing plastic particles into the food supply.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic toxicity induces metabolic shifts in Populus × euramericana cv. '74/76' revealed by multi-omics analysis

Researchers used transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling to show that polystyrene nanoplastics accumulate in poplar tree roots, penetrate chloroplasts in leaves causing photosynthesis disruption, and trigger a metabolic shift from normal growth to defensive flavonoid production under severe exposure conditions.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Visual observation of polystyrene nano-plastics in grape seedlings of Thompson Seedless and assessing their effects via transcriptomics and metabolomics

Researchers demonstrated for the first time that polystyrene nanoplastics can be absorbed by grapevine roots and transported throughout the plant, reaching the leaves. The nanoplastics disrupted the plants' metabolism and activated stress-response pathways. This finding is important because it shows nanoplastics from contaminated soil could enter the food chain through grapes and other fruit crops.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 12 citations