Impact of microplastics on growth, photosynthesis and essential elements in Cucurbita pepo L.
In this study, Cucurbita pepo L., one of the most cultivated, consumed and economically important crop worldwide, was used as model plant to test the toxic effects of the four most abundant microplastics identified in contaminated soils, i.e. polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), and polyethyleneterephthalate (PET). Cucurbita plants were grown in pots with increasing concentrations of the microplastics, then plant biometry, photosynthetic parameters and ionome of treated vs. untreated samples were compared to evaluate the toxicity of each plastic. All the pollutants impaired root and, especially, shoot growth. Specific and concentration-dependant effects of the different microplastics were found, including reduction in leaf size, chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency, as well as changes in the micro- and macro-elemental profile. Among all the microplastics, PVC was identified as the most toxic and PE as the less toxic material. PVC decreased the dimensions of the leaf lamina, the values of the photosynthetic performance index and the plant iron concentration to a higher extent in respect to the other treatments. Microplastic toxicity exerted on the growth of C. pepo raises concerns about possible yield and economic loss, as well as for risks of a possible transfer into the food chain.
2022
2021-12-16 14:41:55
1033
microplastic toxicity, leaf traits, chlorophyll fluorescence, ionome, zucchini
Ilaria
Colzi
70
Luciana
Renna
70
Elisabetta
Bianchi
70
Maria Beatrice
Castellani
70
Andrea
Coppi
70
Sara
Pignattelli
70
Stefano
Loppi
70
Cristina
Gonnelli
70
COBISS_ID
3
89843715
UDK
4
54
ISSN pri Ĩlanku
9
0304-3894
DOI
15
10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127238
NUK URN
18
URN:SI:UNG:REP:XUOU2IXY
0
Predstavitvena datoteka
2021-12-17 07:22:18
RAZ_Colzi_Ilaria_i2022.pdf
697859
Predstavitvena datoteka
2021-12-17 07:21:39