Impacts of Plastics on Plant Development: Recent Advances and Future Research Directions

Abstract

Plastics have inundated the world, with microplastics (MPs) being small particles, less than 5 mm in size, originating from various sources. They pervade ecosystems such as freshwater and marine environments, soils, and the atmosphere. MPs, due to their small size and strong adsorption capacity, pose a threat to plants by inhibiting seed germination, root elongation, and nutrient absorption. The accumulation of MPs induces oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity in plants, which also impacts plant development, mineral nutrition, photosynthesis, toxic accumulation, and metabolite production in plant tissues. Furthermore, roots can absorb nanoplastics (NPs), which are then distributed to stems, leaves, and fruits. As MPs and NPs harm organisms and ecosystems, they raise concerns about physical damage and toxic effects on animals, and the potential impact on human health via food webs. Understanding the environmental fate and effects of MPs is essential, along with strategies to reduce their release and mitigate consequences. However, a full understanding of the effects of different plastics, whether traditional or biodegradable, on plant development is yet to be achieved. This review offers an up-to-date overview of the latest known effects of plastics on plants.

The effects of polyester microfibres on the development and seed yield of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.)

“…One seedling was planted per pot in one of three concentrations: 0 (control), 0.1% (0.5 g w/w of polyester fibres) or 1% (5 g w/w of plastic fibres) after germinating in cotton wool, giving a total of 200 pots per treatment. The concentrations of polyester microfibres were similar to those which reported noticeable changes in plant responses (Yu et al, 2021;Jia, 2023;Mészáros et al, 2023). As plastic pollution continues, investigating high concentrations could help to represent future scenarios .…”

The Peril of Plastics: Atmospheric Microplastics in Outdoor, Indoor, and Remote Environments

“…Studies have been carried out to understand the impact of MPs on lower organisms like microalgae [8], coral reefs [9], and zooplankton [10]. Apart from this, investigations have revealed that honeybees [11], freshwater and marine organisms [12,13], slugs, soil [14], plants [15], moss [16], and even the human body [17] can become contaminated by MPs due to increasing ubiquitous plastic consumption. Moreover, soil and water bodies can also host MPs to form MP sinks, leading to their leakage into the food chain [18].…”