transcriptomic approach reveals effects of polystyrene microplastics on sweet orange seedlings (Citrus sinensis)

Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) are ubiquitous in agricultural soils and can be absorbed by plants, impacting their physiological processes, gene expression, and metabolite profiles. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying plant responses, particularly in fruit trees, to microplastic exposure remain largely unknown. Here, a transcriptomic approach was employed to assess the effects of PS-MPs (0, 10, 20, 40, and 80, denoted as GNCK, GNT10, GNT20, GNT40, and GNT80, respectively) on sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) seedlings in pot experiments. Leaf samples from GNCK, GNT20 (low dose), and GNT80 (high dose) treatments were analyzed for transcriptomic changes. This study offers critical insights into the mechanisms underlying sweet orange responses to PS-MP exposure, contributing to a deeper understanding of microplastics' effects on agroecosystems.