The Effect of Humic Acid and Polystyrene Fluorescence Nanoplastics on Solanum lycopersicum Environmental Behavior and Phytotoxicity

Abstract

The impacts of nanoplastics (100 nm) on terrestrial systems are unclear at this time. Due to the utilization of sewage sludge, plastic particles are likely to accumulate in these systems. The current research investigates how Solanum lycopersicum seed germination and growth are affected by fluorescence polystyrene (Flu−PS), humic acid (HA), and a Flu−PS+HA combination (tomato). Following 24 h of interaction between Flu−PS and HA, our report details the development of an eco-corona with a significant increase in hydrodynamic size. Plant growth, seed germination, and chlorophyll content were all enhanced by the eco-coronated Flu−PS.Additionally, we discover that seeds treated with Flu−PS+HA demonstrated a germination rate of 90%, compared to just 65.8% for seeds treated with Flu−PS alone. Chlorophyll (a, b, and a + b) content measurements indicated that HA-treated groups and Flu−PS+HA-treated groups had considerably higher levels of chlorophyll (a, b, and a + b) than Flu−PS-treated groups (Flu−PS: 3.18 mg g−1, 2.12 mg g−1, and 3.89 mg g−1, HA: 5.96 mg g−1, 4.28 mg g−1, and 6.36 mg g−1, and Flu−PS+HA: 4.17 mg g−1, 3.01 mg g−1, and 6.08 mg g−1, respectively). In a similar manner, the HA and Flu−PS+HA treatment groups showed lower ROS levels than the Flu−PS treatment groups. In addition, we discovered that the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase was lower in the groups treated with HA and Flu−PS+HA than in the groups solely treated with Flu−PS. The results demonstrated that HA significantly lessens the toxicity caused by Flu−PS, while also promoting the germination and growth of Solanum lycopersicum seeds. The related decrease in toxic effects may be ascribed to the establishment of an eco-corona on the Flu−PS. We think that the use of eco-coronas is a technique for safeguarding plants against xenobiotics such as nanoplastics.