Micro/Nanoplastics in Agriculture: Uptake, Translocation and Bioaccumulation in Plants and Their Ecological Implications

Plastic pollution has emerged as a major environmental concern due to its persistence and widespread accumulation in terrestrial ecosystems. The extensive utilization of plastics across a diverse range of products, from packaging to healthcare, construction, and transportation, poses a significant risk due to their enduring and non-biodegradable nature. Micro/nanoplastics (MNPs) derived either from the fragmentation of larger plastics or direct release are increasingly detected in agricultural soils, where they interact with plant systems. In addition, chronic exposure of MNPs alters soil structure, microbial diversity, and nutrient cycling, further impacting agroecosystem functioning. Plants have been shown to absorb MNPs mostly from contaminated soil and irrigated water through their root systems, allowing their subsequent translocation to aerial tissues. MNPs can enter plants through the aquaporins, apoplast pathways, crack entry modes, and leaf stomata, disrupting nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, and growth processes, ultimately affecting crop productivity and quality, while their accumulation in edible tissues raises concerns regarding food safety and trophic transfer. To address these challenges, it is crucial to have standard detection methods for identifying MNPs and to bridge the gap for further mitigation. This review further discussed effective mitigation strategies, including nanomaterial and phytohormone-based interventions under increasing plastic contamination.