Effect of Polystyrene Microplastics on Rice Seed Germination and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity

The accumulation and distribution of microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soils, including rice fields, is well studied. However, only a few studies have investigated the uptake of MPs by rice plants and the consequential toxic effects of MPs under solid-phase culture conditions. Hence, in this study, we explored the effects of different concentrations of polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs, with a size of 200 nm) on rice seed germination, root growth, antioxidant enzyme activity, and transcriptome. PS-MPs exhibited no significant effect on the germination of rice seeds (p > 0.05). However, PS-MPs significantly promoted root length (10 mg L-1; p < 0.05), and significantly reduced antioxidant enzyme activity (1000 mg L-1; p < 0.05). Staining with 3,3-diaminobenzidine and nitrotetrazolium blue chloride further revealed significant accumulation of reactive oxygen species in the roots of rice treated with PS-MPs. In addition, transcriptome data analysis revealed that PS-MPs induce the expression of genes related to antioxidant enzyme activity in plant roots. Specifically, genes related to flavonoid and flavonol biosynthesis were upregulated, whereas those involved in linolenic acid and nitrogen metabolism were downregulated. These results enhance our understanding of the responses of agricultural crops to MP toxicity.

Automated summary

This study found that polystyrene microplastics can promote rice root length at certain concentrations, while also leading to a reduction in antioxidant enzyme activity. Roots of rice treated with PS-MPs accumulate high levels of reactive oxygen species, and transcriptome analysis shows that PS-MPs induce the expression of genes related to antioxidant enzyme activity in plant roots.