Nano-plastic contamination in soil: impacts on rhizosphere volatile organic compound (VOC) signaling and rice disease susceptibility—a comprehensive review

Polyvinyl chloride nanoplastics (PVC-NPs) are emerging pollutants that pose a significant threat to agricultural soils, where they may disrupt rhizosphere volatile organic compound (VOC) signaling and intensify rice blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae. The widespread use of PVC-NPs may result in their accumulation in rice-cultivated soils, where their physicochemical properties interfere with and adversely affect the soil microbial communities and root physiology. Evidence from recent studies indicates that PVC-NPs physically adsorb and metabolically suppress key defensive VOCs (β-caryophyllene and hexanal) and disrupt the microbial symbionts responsible for producing antifungal volatiles. This review provides a comprehensive examination of PVC-NP-specific mechanisms in rice systems, distinguishing it from broader microplastic studies by emphasizing the emerging importance of volatilome-pathogen interactions. Environmental implications include soil biodiversity loss, groundwater contamination, and bioaccumulation in food chains, thereby increasing human health risks.