Polypropylene microplastic exposure modulates multiple metabolic pathways in tobacco leaves, impacting lignin biosynthesis
The adverse effects of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) on plant growth have gained significant attention. However, the response of tobacco plants to polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) remains poorly understood. To address this, a microcosm experiment was conducted in which tobacco seedl...
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325003410 |
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| author | Muhammad Arshad Yaowu Ma Weichang Gao Shixiang Zhang Muhammad Shoaib Xinru Liu Yingkai Fan Gen Li Huiyu Chuai Ying Jiang Jiaguo Jiao Huijuan Zhang Jun Wu Feng Hu Huixin Li |
| author_facet | Muhammad Arshad Yaowu Ma Weichang Gao Shixiang Zhang Muhammad Shoaib Xinru Liu Yingkai Fan Gen Li Huiyu Chuai Ying Jiang Jiaguo Jiao Huijuan Zhang Jun Wu Feng Hu Huixin Li |
| author_sort | Muhammad Arshad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The adverse effects of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) on plant growth have gained significant attention. However, the response of tobacco plants to polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) remains poorly understood. To address this, a microcosm experiment was conducted in which tobacco seedlings were exposed to PP-MPs at varying concentrations (100 and 1000 mg/kg) and particle sizes (20 nm and 100 µm) for 48 days in red soil. The physicochemical, transcriptomic, and metabolic responses of tobacco plants to PP-MP treatments were assessed. Our findings indicate that the effect of PP-MP exposure on tobacco growth was dose-dependent, with the higher doses (1000 mg/kg) inducing significantly stronger responses. Further, a significant accumulation of key metabolites in the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways such as quercetin, phloretin, kaempferol, liquiritigenin, naringin, myricetin, ferulic acid, formaldehyde, and methyl eugenol was observed in response to PP-MPs. Additionally, the transcriptomic analysis revealed that higher doses enriched more DEGs than lower. KEGG pathway analysis identified significant enrichment in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis, and plant hormone signal transduction. The notable variation in the expression of key enzyme-related genes such as PAL, CHI, CSE, C4H, 4CL, COMT, and CYP indicates the substantial impact on lignin synthesis. Lastly, large-sized PPMPs alter the activity of key lignin-degrading enzymes, affecting the lignin content. This study offers valuable insights into the responses of tobacco plants to varying concentrations and sizes of PP-MPs, integrating both physicochemical and molecular perspectives. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-820b5c2d2dc34c5d9b8f01c9e28ec113 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj-art-820b5c2d2dc34c5d9b8f01c9e28ec1132025-08-20T02:06:20ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-03-0129211800510.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118005Polypropylene microplastic exposure modulates multiple metabolic pathways in tobacco leaves, impacting lignin biosynthesisMuhammad Arshad0Yaowu Ma1Weichang Gao2Shixiang Zhang3Muhammad Shoaib4Xinru Liu5Yingkai Fan6Gen Li7Huiyu Chuai8Ying Jiang9Jiaguo Jiao10Huijuan Zhang11Jun Wu12Feng Hu13Huixin Li14The sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, China; Soil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, ChinaGuizhou Academy of Tobacco Science, Guiyang, ChinaZhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTN, Zhengzhou, ChinaSoil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, ChinaSoil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, ChinaSoil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, ChinaSoil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, ChinaSoil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, ChinaSoil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, ChinaThe sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, China; Soil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Saline Soil Resources Utilization and Ecological Conservation, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China; Corresponding authors at: The sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, China.The sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, China; Soil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Saline Soil Resources Utilization and Ecological Conservation, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China; Corresponding authors at: The sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, China.The sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, China; Soil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, ChinaThe sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, China; Soil Ecology Lab, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, ChinaThe adverse effects of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) on plant growth have gained significant attention. However, the response of tobacco plants to polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) remains poorly understood. To address this, a microcosm experiment was conducted in which tobacco seedlings were exposed to PP-MPs at varying concentrations (100 and 1000 mg/kg) and particle sizes (20 nm and 100 µm) for 48 days in red soil. The physicochemical, transcriptomic, and metabolic responses of tobacco plants to PP-MP treatments were assessed. Our findings indicate that the effect of PP-MP exposure on tobacco growth was dose-dependent, with the higher doses (1000 mg/kg) inducing significantly stronger responses. Further, a significant accumulation of key metabolites in the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways such as quercetin, phloretin, kaempferol, liquiritigenin, naringin, myricetin, ferulic acid, formaldehyde, and methyl eugenol was observed in response to PP-MPs. Additionally, the transcriptomic analysis revealed that higher doses enriched more DEGs than lower. KEGG pathway analysis identified significant enrichment in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis, and plant hormone signal transduction. The notable variation in the expression of key enzyme-related genes such as PAL, CHI, CSE, C4H, 4CL, COMT, and CYP indicates the substantial impact on lignin synthesis. Lastly, large-sized PPMPs alter the activity of key lignin-degrading enzymes, affecting the lignin content. This study offers valuable insights into the responses of tobacco plants to varying concentrations and sizes of PP-MPs, integrating both physicochemical and molecular perspectives.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325003410PolypropyleneMicroplasticsTobacco seedlingsTranscriptomic analysisMetabolite accumulationLignin biosynthesis |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Arshad Yaowu Ma Weichang Gao Shixiang Zhang Muhammad Shoaib Xinru Liu Yingkai Fan Gen Li Huiyu Chuai Ying Jiang Jiaguo Jiao Huijuan Zhang Jun Wu Feng Hu Huixin Li Polypropylene microplastic exposure modulates multiple metabolic pathways in tobacco leaves, impacting lignin biosynthesis Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Polypropylene Microplastics Tobacco seedlings Transcriptomic analysis Metabolite accumulation Lignin biosynthesis |
| title | Polypropylene microplastic exposure modulates multiple metabolic pathways in tobacco leaves, impacting lignin biosynthesis |
| title_full | Polypropylene microplastic exposure modulates multiple metabolic pathways in tobacco leaves, impacting lignin biosynthesis |
| title_fullStr | Polypropylene microplastic exposure modulates multiple metabolic pathways in tobacco leaves, impacting lignin biosynthesis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Polypropylene microplastic exposure modulates multiple metabolic pathways in tobacco leaves, impacting lignin biosynthesis |
| title_short | Polypropylene microplastic exposure modulates multiple metabolic pathways in tobacco leaves, impacting lignin biosynthesis |
| title_sort | polypropylene microplastic exposure modulates multiple metabolic pathways in tobacco leaves impacting lignin biosynthesis |
| topic | Polypropylene Microplastics Tobacco seedlings Transcriptomic analysis Metabolite accumulation Lignin biosynthesis |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325003410 |
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