microplastics
Microplastics are persistent synthetic particles (1 μm to 5 mm) that accumulate in terrestrial and aquatic environments. For plant science, these particles are important because they can be taken up by plant roots and potentially affect plant physiology, growth, and ecosystem function. Understanding plant-microplastic interactions is essential given the increasing prevalence of microplastic contamination worldwide.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-02-15
Biodegradable plastic bag microplastics harm plant growth and trigger stress responses more than conventional plastics, raising concerns about the ecological safety of compostable alternatives increasingly used in agriculture.
Both PBAT biodegradable microplastics reduced sunflower shoot and root biomass at 0.5% and 1.0% soil concentrations, while conventional PE microplastics showed no effect.
Proline levels increased significantly at higher PBAT concentrations, indicating activation of drought-like stress response pathways.
Soil water holding capacity increased at 1% of all microplastic types, reducing water availability for plants; pH increased notably at high PBAT concentrations.
