Assessing the Influences of Leaf Functional Traits on Plant Performances Under Dust Deposition and Microplastic Retention

Since airborne microplastics (AMPs) are a recent and unexplored field of study, there are several unresolved issues regarding their effects on plants. The accumulating potential of AMPs and their effect on the biochemical parameters of ten different plant species in an Indian city environment were a...

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Main Authors: Mamun Mandal, Anamika Roy, Shubhankar Ghosh, Achinta Mondal, Arkadiusz Przybysz, Robert Popek, Totan Ghosh, Sandeep Kumar Dash, Ganesh Kumar Agrawal, Randeep Rakwal, Abhijit Sarkar
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Atmosphere
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/7/861
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author Mamun Mandal
Anamika Roy
Shubhankar Ghosh
Achinta Mondal
Arkadiusz Przybysz
Robert Popek
Totan Ghosh
Sandeep Kumar Dash
Ganesh Kumar Agrawal
Randeep Rakwal
Abhijit Sarkar
author_facet Mamun Mandal
Anamika Roy
Shubhankar Ghosh
Achinta Mondal
Arkadiusz Przybysz
Robert Popek
Totan Ghosh
Sandeep Kumar Dash
Ganesh Kumar Agrawal
Randeep Rakwal
Abhijit Sarkar
author_sort Mamun Mandal
collection DOAJ
description Since airborne microplastics (AMPs) are a recent and unexplored field of study, there are several unresolved issues regarding their effects on plants. The accumulating potential of AMPs and their effect on the biochemical parameters of ten different plant species in an Indian city environment were assessed. The four types of AMPs deposited in the phyllosphere—fragment (30.76%), film (28.95%), fiber (22.61%), and pellet (17.68%)—were examined using stereomicroscopy and fluorescence microscopy. The air pollution tolerance index (APTI) was determined, and other biochemical parameters such as proline, phenol, malondialdehyde, carotenoids, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase were also measured. The findings showed that in the case of polymers type, PE (30%) was more abundant than others, followed by PET (17%), PP (15%), PVC (13%), PVA (10%), PS (7%), ABS (5%), and PMMA (3%). <i>Clerodendrum infortunatum</i> L., <i>Calotropis procera</i> (Aiton) W.T. Aiton, and <i>Mangifera indica</i> L. all showed a strong APTI and also exhibited significantly higher amounts of AMP accumulation. Principal component analysis showed a stronger association between phyllospheric AMPs and biochemical parameters. Additionally, the correlation analysis revealed that the presence of accumulated AMPs may significantly influence the biochemical parameters of the plants. Thus, it can be concluded that the different plant species are uniquely specialized in AMP accumulation, which is significantly impacted by the plants’ APTI as well as other biochemical parameters.
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spelling doaj-art-b5701fe1715945bb9b89d6b24beca1ed2025-08-20T03:13:39ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-07-0116786110.3390/atmos16070861Assessing the Influences of Leaf Functional Traits on Plant Performances Under Dust Deposition and Microplastic RetentionMamun Mandal0Anamika Roy1Shubhankar Ghosh2Achinta Mondal3Arkadiusz Przybysz4Robert Popek5Totan Ghosh6Sandeep Kumar Dash7Ganesh Kumar Agrawal8Randeep Rakwal9Abhijit Sarkar10Laboratory of Applied Stress Biology, Department of Botany, University of Gour Banga, Malda 732103, West Bengal, IndiaLaboratory of Applied Stress Biology, Department of Botany, University of Gour Banga, Malda 732103, West Bengal, IndiaLaboratory of Applied Stress Biology, Department of Botany, University of Gour Banga, Malda 732103, West Bengal, IndiaLaboratory of Applied Stress Biology, Department of Botany, University of Gour Banga, Malda 732103, West Bengal, IndiaCentre for Climate Research, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, PolandCentre for Climate Research, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Applied Chemistry, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Haringhata 741249, West Bengal, IndiaDepartment of Physiology, University of Gour Banga, Malda 732103, West Bengal, IndiaGRADE Academy (Pvt.) Ltd., Birgunj 44300, NepalGRADE Academy (Pvt.) Ltd., Birgunj 44300, NepalLaboratory of Applied Stress Biology, Department of Botany, University of Gour Banga, Malda 732103, West Bengal, IndiaSince airborne microplastics (AMPs) are a recent and unexplored field of study, there are several unresolved issues regarding their effects on plants. The accumulating potential of AMPs and their effect on the biochemical parameters of ten different plant species in an Indian city environment were assessed. The four types of AMPs deposited in the phyllosphere—fragment (30.76%), film (28.95%), fiber (22.61%), and pellet (17.68%)—were examined using stereomicroscopy and fluorescence microscopy. The air pollution tolerance index (APTI) was determined, and other biochemical parameters such as proline, phenol, malondialdehyde, carotenoids, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase were also measured. The findings showed that in the case of polymers type, PE (30%) was more abundant than others, followed by PET (17%), PP (15%), PVC (13%), PVA (10%), PS (7%), ABS (5%), and PMMA (3%). <i>Clerodendrum infortunatum</i> L., <i>Calotropis procera</i> (Aiton) W.T. Aiton, and <i>Mangifera indica</i> L. all showed a strong APTI and also exhibited significantly higher amounts of AMP accumulation. Principal component analysis showed a stronger association between phyllospheric AMPs and biochemical parameters. Additionally, the correlation analysis revealed that the presence of accumulated AMPs may significantly influence the biochemical parameters of the plants. Thus, it can be concluded that the different plant species are uniquely specialized in AMP accumulation, which is significantly impacted by the plants’ APTI as well as other biochemical parameters.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/7/861phyllospheredustairborne microplasticsbiochemical parameters
spellingShingle Mamun Mandal
Anamika Roy
Shubhankar Ghosh
Achinta Mondal
Arkadiusz Przybysz
Robert Popek
Totan Ghosh
Sandeep Kumar Dash
Ganesh Kumar Agrawal
Randeep Rakwal
Abhijit Sarkar
Assessing the Influences of Leaf Functional Traits on Plant Performances Under Dust Deposition and Microplastic Retention
Atmosphere
phyllosphere
dust
airborne microplastics
biochemical parameters
title Assessing the Influences of Leaf Functional Traits on Plant Performances Under Dust Deposition and Microplastic Retention
title_full Assessing the Influences of Leaf Functional Traits on Plant Performances Under Dust Deposition and Microplastic Retention
title_fullStr Assessing the Influences of Leaf Functional Traits on Plant Performances Under Dust Deposition and Microplastic Retention
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the Influences of Leaf Functional Traits on Plant Performances Under Dust Deposition and Microplastic Retention
title_short Assessing the Influences of Leaf Functional Traits on Plant Performances Under Dust Deposition and Microplastic Retention
title_sort assessing the influences of leaf functional traits on plant performances under dust deposition and microplastic retention
topic phyllosphere
dust
airborne microplastics
biochemical parameters
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/7/861
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