Polyethylene Microplastics Toxicity in Sinningia aggregata (Gesneriaceae)

• Grant number: 24/03638-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany
• Principal Investigator: Andréa Onofre de Araújo
• Grantee: Gabriel Luis Ferreira Caldas Aguiar
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Humanas e Biológicas (CCHB). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Plastic is one of the most ubiquitous materials in our daily lives, with its cumulative production since its inception exceeding 9 billion tons. As the majority of it is non-biodegradable, the accumulation of plastic has become an increasingly pressing environmental concern. Improper disposal of plastics releases microfragments (microplastics - MPs) into the environment. While there is limited conclusive research in the field, the toxicity of these MPs is being observed in various organisms, particularly in plants. In this study, we will examine whether there is any indication of phytotoxicity from Polyethylene (PE) microplastics ranging between 250 and 500 ¼m in Sinningia aggregata (Gesneriaceae). Seeds will be germinated and grown exposed to microplastics at different concentrations for three months. Five treatments will be administered, differing in MP concentration in the substrate and incubation time of MPs in the substrate before seed planting: 0% (control), 0.1% MPs without incubation, 0.1% with 30-day incubation, 0.4% without incubation, and 0.4% with 30-day incubation. Following the exposure period, measurements will be taken on the plants to assess and quantify the toxicity of these microplastics in the samples, including: wet biomass, dry biomass, shoot length, root length, root/shoot ratio, number and size of internodes, leaf size, number of secondary and tertiary veins, and leaf deformities. Descriptive statistical analyses will be conducted to describe the variation among treatments, along with t-tests and ANOVA tests.