Macro- and microplastic leachates show a slightly toxic effect on seed germination of cotton

Mian He; Zhen Feng; Yangyang Xu; Hanting Ding; Chengfei Ying; Yimin Cai; Haibo Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139081

Macro- and microplastic leachates show a slightly toxic effect on seed germination of cotton

Chemosphere. 2023 Sep:335:139081. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139081. Epub 2023 May 30.

Authors

Mian He¹, Zhen Feng², Yangyang Xu³, Hanting Ding⁴, Chengfei Ying⁵, Yimin Cai⁶, Haibo Zhang⁷

Affiliations

¹ Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation, School of Environment and Resources, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou. 311300, China. Electronic address: 2020603022012@stu.zafu.edu.cn.
² College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, 311300, China. Electronic address: fengzhen@zafu.edu.cn.
³ Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation, School of Environment and Resources, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou. 311300, China. Electronic address: 632417909@qq.com.
⁴ Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation, School of Environment and Resources, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou. 311300, China. Electronic address: 1604219717@qq.com.
⁵ School of Humanities and Law, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, 311300, China. Electronic address: yingchengfei@zafu.edu.cn.
⁶ Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation, School of Environment and Resources, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou. 311300, China. Electronic address: caiyimin@zafu.edu.cn.
⁷ Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Contamination Bioremediation, School of Environment and Resources, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou. 311300, China. Electronic address: hbzhang@zafu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37263505
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139081

Abstract

Utilizing degradable mulching film effectively decreases the accumulation of plastic residuals in agriculture fields and their impacts on plant growth. However, the chemical risks to plants raised by leached substances from different microplastics are still unknown. This work determined the characteristics of macro- and microplastic leachates from different degradation (PE, PO, and Bio) and size (1 × 1 cm, 450-600 μm and <355 μm), as well as their impact on the germination of two varieties of cotton seeds. Our study revealed that degradable characteristics of macro-plastic significantly affect its leachates. Leachates of Bio gained higher dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, aromatic, and values of slope ratios (S_R) compared with PO and PE. The particle size of Bio macro- and microplastics also influences indicators such as S_R, E₂₅₀/E₃₆₅, E₂₅₃/E_203, and Fmax value; however, fluctuations of those indicators were significantly lower than that induced by different degradable traits. Leachates of PE, PO, and Bio seem to have little impact on the germination of two varieties of cotton seeds, only mean germination time (MGT) and shoot height were slightly different among each treatment. A slight fluctuation of enzyme activities also indicates that plastic leachate did not generate excessive oxidative stress in cotton during germination. Leachates of macro- and microplastic under the tested concentration exhibited a slight toxic impact on cotton, which has high-stress tolerance. Thus, further studies should concentrate on the effects of plastic leachate on sensitive plants.

Keywords: Biodegradation; Cotton; Leachate; Microplastic; Seed germination.

MeSH terms

Germination
Gossypium
Microplastics* / metabolism
Plants
Plastics* / metabolism
Seeds

Substances

Plastics
Microplastics