The Degradability of Microplastics May Not Necessarily Equate to Environmental Friendliness: A Case Study of Cucumber Seedlings with Disturbed Photosynthesis

Yi-Fan Zhang, Zhi-Yun Huang, Yi-Fan Li, Xin-Lei Lu, Gen-Rui Li, Shan-Shan Qi, Irfan Ullah Khan, Guan-Lin Li, Zhi-Cong Dai () and Dao-Lin Du
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Yi-Fan Zhang: Key Laboratory of Modern Agricultural Equipment and Technology, Jiangsu University, Ministry of Education, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Zhi-Yun Huang: Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Yi-Fan Li: Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Xin-Lei Lu: Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Gen-Rui Li: Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Shan-Shan Qi: Key Laboratory of Modern Agricultural Equipment and Technology, Jiangsu University, Ministry of Education, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Irfan Ullah Khan: Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Guan-Lin Li: Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Zhi-Cong Dai: Key Laboratory of Modern Agricultural Equipment and Technology, Jiangsu University, Ministry of Education, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Dao-Lin Du: School of Emergency Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: In the environment, degradable plastics are decomposed into biodegradable microplastics (Bio-MPs), but there is limited study on the impact on plant growth and development. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics (PLA-MPs) and nonbiodegradable polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) with different concentrations (0.02%, 0.2%, and 2% w / w ) to explore their short-term toxic effects on cucumbers. The results of this study showed that PLA-MPs significantly ( p < 0.05) reduced the aboveground and belowground biomass of cucumber seedlings compared to the control. At the level of 2% MPs, the chlorophyll content and PRI vegetation index of cucumber plants decreased significantly, anthocyanin content increased, and the photosynthetic system was disturbed. Likewise, the antioxidant defensive system of cucumber was affected after exposure to MPs stress, especially under 2% levels. The hyperspectral image is a novel technique which analyzed the chlorophyll content and absorption under MPs treatment; there was still a high correlation between chlorophyll content, anthocyanin content, and MCARI vegetation index, so a single vegetation index could be used for rapid detection of plant physiological status. Our study suggests that Bio-MPs have potential ecological toxicity that could affect the growth of cucumber seedlings through deactivation of the PSII reaction center. Therefore, biodegradable plastics do not seem to be the optimal solution, and there is an urgent need for long-term monitoring and evaluation of the biological toxicity of biodegradable MPs.

Keywords: biodegradable microplastics; cucumber; photosynthesis; hyperspectral image; plant growth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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