Incubation time and size effects of biodegradable mulch microplastics on lettuce plantlets in vitro

The use of biodegradable mulch films (BDM) in agriculture has raised concerns about the potential impact of the microplastics (MPs) they release over time, after the BDM’s useful life. The effects of BDM MPs have been explored through a diversity of assays, with still poorly understood and frequentl...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Henrion, Mathilde, Martin-Closas, Lluis, Lynch, Iseult, Pelacho Aja, Ana Mª
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universitat de Lleida (UdL)
Repositorio:Repositori Obert UdL
OAI Identifier:oai:repositori.udl.cat:10459.1/469806
Acceso en línea:https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050849
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469806
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Microplastics
Biodegradable mulch films (BDM)
In vitro
Lettuce
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spelling Incubation time and size effects of biodegradable mulch microplastics on lettuce plantlets in vitroHenrion, MathildeMartin-Closas, LluisLynch, IseultPelacho Aja, Ana MªMicroplasticsBiodegradable mulch films (BDM)In vitroLettuceThe use of biodegradable mulch films (BDM) in agriculture has raised concerns about the potential impact of the microplastics (MPs) they release over time, after the BDM’s useful life. The effects of BDM MPs have been explored through a diversity of assays, with still poorly understood and frequently contrasting results. Furthermore, the impact on plants as the MPs evolve in size and as a function of residence time in the soil remains largely unexplored. Through a controlled in vitro lettuce culture, this study explores the effect of BDM MPs size, using fractions 5 to <0.2 mm and pre-incubation times of 0 to 8 weeks, on plant development. Short incubation times, of 1 and 2 weeks, and freshly adding the BDM MPs inhibited plantlet growth, with smaller MPs inducing stronger effects. In contrast, longer MPs incubation, of 8 weeks, promoted plantlet development, enhancing leaf and particularly root elongation while reducing lateral root branching. The effects on roots were more pronounced, as the MPs size decreased. Germination and photosynthetic pigments were unaffected by any treatment. Overall, BDM MPs’ impact on plants was mainly driven by particle size and incubation time in the medium prior to seeding, with adverse effects on plant development observed at short incubation times that were no longer present when incubation was extended. These findings highlight the need to unravel the dynamic and temporal nature of the BDM MPs’ interaction with plantsThis project has received funding from the European Union’s HORIZON EUROPE research and innovation program GA N°101072777–PlasticUnderground HEUR-MSCA-2021-DN-01.MDPI2026info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttps://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050849https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469806reponame:Repositori Obert UdL instname:Universitat de Lleida (UdL)InglésReproducció del document publicat a https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050849Plants, 2026, vol. 15, núm. 5, p. 1-16info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/101072777cc-by (c) Henrion et al., 2026Attribution 4.0 Internationalinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/oai:repositori.udl.cat:10459.1/4698062026-06-24T12:42:17Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Incubation time and size effects of biodegradable mulch microplastics on lettuce plantlets in vitro
title Incubation time and size effects of biodegradable mulch microplastics on lettuce plantlets in vitro
spellingShingle Incubation time and size effects of biodegradable mulch microplastics on lettuce plantlets in vitro
Henrion, Mathilde
Microplastics
Biodegradable mulch films (BDM)
In vitro
Lettuce
title_short Incubation time and size effects of biodegradable mulch microplastics on lettuce plantlets in vitro
title_full Incubation time and size effects of biodegradable mulch microplastics on lettuce plantlets in vitro
title_fullStr Incubation time and size effects of biodegradable mulch microplastics on lettuce plantlets in vitro
title_full_unstemmed Incubation time and size effects of biodegradable mulch microplastics on lettuce plantlets in vitro
title_sort Incubation time and size effects of biodegradable mulch microplastics on lettuce plantlets in vitro
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Henrion, Mathilde
Martin-Closas, Lluis
Lynch, Iseult
Pelacho Aja, Ana Mª
author Henrion, Mathilde
author_facet Henrion, Mathilde
Martin-Closas, Lluis
Lynch, Iseult
Pelacho Aja, Ana Mª
author_role author
author2 Martin-Closas, Lluis
Lynch, Iseult
Pelacho Aja, Ana Mª
author2_role author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Microplastics
Biodegradable mulch films (BDM)
In vitro
Lettuce
topic Microplastics
Biodegradable mulch films (BDM)
In vitro
Lettuce
description The use of biodegradable mulch films (BDM) in agriculture has raised concerns about the potential impact of the microplastics (MPs) they release over time, after the BDM’s useful life. The effects of BDM MPs have been explored through a diversity of assays, with still poorly understood and frequently contrasting results. Furthermore, the impact on plants as the MPs evolve in size and as a function of residence time in the soil remains largely unexplored. Through a controlled in vitro lettuce culture, this study explores the effect of BDM MPs size, using fractions 5 to <0.2 mm and pre-incubation times of 0 to 8 weeks, on plant development. Short incubation times, of 1 and 2 weeks, and freshly adding the BDM MPs inhibited plantlet growth, with smaller MPs inducing stronger effects. In contrast, longer MPs incubation, of 8 weeks, promoted plantlet development, enhancing leaf and particularly root elongation while reducing lateral root branching. The effects on roots were more pronounced, as the MPs size decreased. Germination and photosynthetic pigments were unaffected by any treatment. Overall, BDM MPs’ impact on plants was mainly driven by particle size and incubation time in the medium prior to seeding, with adverse effects on plant development observed at short incubation times that were no longer present when incubation was extended. These findings highlight the need to unravel the dynamic and temporal nature of the BDM MPs’ interaction with plants
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050849
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469806
url https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050849
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469806
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Reproducció del document publicat a https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15050849
Plants, 2026, vol. 15, núm. 5, p. 1-16
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/101072777
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv cc-by (c) Henrion et al., 2026
Attribution 4.0 International
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
rights_invalid_str_mv cc-by (c) Henrion et al., 2026
Attribution 4.0 International
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI
publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Repositori Obert UdL
instname:Universitat de Lleida (UdL)
instname_str Universitat de Lleida (UdL)
reponame_str Repositori Obert UdL
collection Repositori Obert UdL
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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