Micro/Nanoplastics in plantation agricultural products: behavior process, phytotoxicity under biotic and abiotic stresses, and controlling strategies.

Abstract

With the extensive utilization of plastic products, microplastics/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) contamination not only poses a global hazard to the environment, but also induces a new threat to the growth development and nutritional quality of plantation agricultural products. This study thoroughly examines the behavior of MPs/NPs, including their sources, entry routes into plants, phytotoxicity under various biotic and abiotic stresses (e.g., salinity, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, antibiotics, plasticizers, nano oxide, naturally occurring organic macromolecular compounds, invasive plants, Botrytis cinerea mycorrhizal fungi.) and controlling strategies. MPs/NPs in agricultural systems mainly originate from mulch, sewage, compost fertilizer, municipal solid waste, pesticide packaging materials, etc. They enter plants through endocytosis, apoplast pathways, crack-entry modes, and leaf stomata, affecting phenotypic, metabolic, enzymatic, and genetic processes such as seed germination, growth metabolism, photosynthesis, oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses, fruit yield and nutrient quality, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. MPs/NPs can also interact with other environmental stressors, resulting in synergistic, antagonistic, or neutral effects on phytotoxicity. To address these challenges, this review highlights strategies to mitigate MPs/NPs toxicity, including the development of novel green biodegradable plastics, plant extraction and immobilization, exogenous plant growth regulator interventions, porous nanomaterial modulation, biocatalysis and enzymatic degradation. Finally, the study identifies current limitations and future research directions in this critical field.