Micro(nano)plastics in Plant Systems: Fate of Plastisphere and Emerging Contaminants, and Agricultural Ecosystem Impacts
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 55
Special Issue Editor
Interests: microplastics; plants; detrimental effects
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In recent years, the focus of environmental science research has significantly shifted toward the global issue of plastic pollution, particularly the degradation of plastic waste into micro(nano)plastics (MNPs). The United Nations Environment Assembly has adopted a resolution to develop a legally binding international instrument to help address plastic pollution, highlighting the urgency of this issue. Due to their micro-size, MNPs can penetrate biological systems, including plant tissues, leading to a range of detrimental effects. While the physical toxicity of MNPs has been extensively studied, there is growing interest in understanding the interaction mechanisms between MNPs, emerging related pollutants (such as PPD-Q and PFAS), and microbial communities (known as plastispheres) attached to these particles, especially their impacts within plant systems. Although research has begun to explore these complex relationships, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the potential effects of MNPs and related pollutants on plant growth, physiological functions, and ecosystem health.
This research theme aims to elucidate the complex interactions between MNPs, emerging pollutants, and communities colonizing plastic particles, particularly their behavior and effects within plant systems. Specifically, the study will focus on the following aspects: the mechanisms of absorption, transport, and accumulation of MNPs in plant tissues; the effects of MNPs and related pollutants on plant growth, physiological metabolism, and stress resistance; the interactions between microbial communities on MNPs and rhizosphere microorganisms and their ecological effects; and the potential risks of MNP pollution to agricultural ecosystem health and crop safety. By systematically addressing these issues, this research seeks to comprehensively understand the negative effects of MNPs and related substances on plant systems, providing a scientific basis for developing more effective agricultural environmental management and pollution mitigation strategies.
To further define the scope of the research, we invite submissions of research papers focusing on, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Mechanisms of absorption, transport, and accumulation of MNPs in plant tissues;
- Effects of MNPs and related pollutants on plant growth, physiological metabolism, and stress resistance;
- Interactions between microbial communities on MNPs and rhizosphere microorganisms and their ecological effects;
- Impacts of MNP pollution on crop yield, quality, and food safety;
- Fate and risk management strategies of MNPs and related pollutants in agricultural ecosystems.
Prof. Dr. Pengfei Wu
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- micro(nano)plastics (MNPs)
- plant systems
- contaminant interactions
- plastisphere
- agricultural ecosystems
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