The Effect of Microplastics with Different Types, Particle Sizes, and Concentrations on the Germination of Non-Heading Chinese Cabbage Seed

Xiaolei Zeng, Xinyue Yang, Xianhuan Tang, Lixian Xu, Jing Hu, Mingcheng Wang, Gefu Wang-Pruski and Zhizhong Zhang ()
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Xiaolei Zeng: Joint FAFU-Dalhousie Lab, College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Xinyue Yang: Joint FAFU-Dalhousie Lab, College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Xianhuan Tang: Joint FAFU-Dalhousie Lab, College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Lixian Xu: Joint FAFU-Dalhousie Lab, College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Jing Hu: Joint FAFU-Dalhousie Lab, College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Mingcheng Wang: Joint FAFU-Dalhousie Lab, College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Gefu Wang-Pruski: Joint FAFU-Dalhousie Lab, College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Zhizhong Zhang: Joint FAFU-Dalhousie Lab, College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) are a new type of pollutant widely distributed in the environment. The ecological risks caused by MPs are becoming increasingly serious, especially in cultivated land where pollution is more likely to accumulate. In this paper, the effects of different types, particle sizes, and concentrations of MPs on the seed germination of non-heading Chinese cabbage were analyzed to reveal their potential mechanisms. Five types of MPs, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS), were used for correlation analysis. The results showed that the effect of PVC and PET on seed germination was greater than that of PP, PS, and PE. PVC and PP promoted the growth of germinated seeds, while PET and PS showed a certain degree of inhibition. The effect of MPs with a particle size of 6.5–150 μm on seed germination was obvious. Low-concentration MPs (<1 g/L) had a weak inhibitory effect on seed germination. When the concentration was 1 g/L, 75 μm-PP, 75 μm-PVC, and 150 μm-PS promoted the growth of germinated seeds, while 48 μm PET showed inhibition. At high concentration, PP and PS inhibited amylase activity. In general, MPs’ effects showed significant differences according to different types, particle sizes, and concentrations.

Keywords: microplastics (MPs); non-heading Chinese cabbage; seed germination; soluble sugar; amylase activity (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: 2024
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