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Stress response to nanoplastics with different charges in Brassica napus L. during seed germination and seedling growth stages

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Abstract

Nanoplastic pollution has become a significant problem in farmland systems worldwide. However, research on the effects of nanoplastics (NPs) with different charges on field crops is still limited. In our study, NPs with different charges, including unmodified polystyrene nanoplastics (PS), positively charged polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NH2), and negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-SO3H), were investigated for their impacts on seed germination and seedling growth of rape. The results showed that seed water uptake (after 12 h), seed germination, seed vigour, and relative root elongation were all significantly reduced under exposure to NPs (200 mg/L). Similarly, remarkable decreases in plant biomass (root weight, shoot weight), growth (root length, plant height), photosynthesis ability (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids), essential nutrient uptake (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu), and plant quality (soluble protein, soluble sugar, crude fibre content) of rape seedlings were also observed after exposure to NPs. Among the three kinds of NPs, PS-NH2 showed stronger effects. Moreover, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities of rape seedlings were changed, and the content of malondialdehyde was significantly increased under exposure to NPs. Furthermore, positively charged PS-NH2 showed stronger effects on the phenotype, physiology, biochemistry, nutrient uptake, and plant quality of rape. Notably, a comprehensive toxicity evaluation revealed that PS-NH2 had the strongest toxicity to rape. The present study provides important implications for the interaction and risk assessment of NPs and crops in soil-plant systems.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. U20A20115 and 42007112) and the Major Technology Innovation Project of Shandong Province (No. 2020CXGC011403). The authors would like to thank all the anonymous referees for their constructive comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China

    Tao Li, Rui Zhao & Zhaojie Cui

  2. School of Municipal & Environmental Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan, 250101, China

    Xiufeng Cao

Authors
  1. Tao Li
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  2. Xiufeng Cao
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  3. Rui Zhao
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  4. Zhaojie Cui
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhaojie Cui.

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Highlights

• Higher concentrations of PS, PS-NH2 and PS-SO3H inhibited seed germination.

• PS, PS-NH2 and PS-SO3H influenced seedling growth in a dose-dependent manner.

• PS, PS-NH2 and PS-SO3H reduced essential nutrients uptake and plant quality.

• PS, PS-NH2 and PS-SO3H increased antioxidant enzyme activities and MDA content.

• Nanoplastic toxicity was related to surface charges.

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11783_2023_1643_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

Stress response to nanoplastics with different charges in Brassica napus L. during seed germination and seedling growth stages

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Li, T., Cao, X., Zhao, R. et al. Stress response to nanoplastics with different charges in Brassica napus L. during seed germination and seedling growth stages. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 17, 43 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1643-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-023-1643-y

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