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Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on tomato plant growth, fruit yield and quality.

Mingyuan You,Ting Zhou,Jiahui Yan,Jingyue Ma,Tingting Kong,Songshen Hu,Guobin Li,Xiaohui Hu,Xiaojing Li

Published 2026 in Food Chemistry

ABSTRACT

Nanoplastics (≤100 nm) are emerging pollutants in terrestrial ecosystems capable of infiltrating plants through root absorption, posing potential risks to ecosystems and human health. However, their effects on vegetable crops remain poorly understood. This study investigated the physiological and molecular impacts of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) on tomato growth and fruit quality. Exposure to PSNPs reduced seedling biomass, photosynthesis, and root development, while triggering oxidative stress via elevated H₂O₂ and O₂- levels. Pot experiments demonstrated that nanoplastics at a higher concentration (16 mg·kg-1) nanoplastics inhibited mineral uptake, diminishing fruit yield and nutritional quality (e.g., soluble solids, vitamin C, lycopene). Root transcriptomic analysis identified 388 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), linking growth inhibition to disruptions in synthesis and metabolic pathways. These findings elucidate nanoplastics-induced toxicity mechanisms in crops, underscoring their threat to food safety and sustainable agriculture.

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