Data from: Plastic particles adsorb to the roots of freshwater vascular plant Spirodela polyrhiza but do not impair growth

Here we investigated the impact of nano- and microplastics on the
freshwater duckweed species Spirodela polyrhiza, a vascular plant. S.
polyrhiza was exposed for 120h to concentrations ranging from 102 to 106
particles·mL-1. We assessed impacts on growth and chlorophyll production,
and explored adsorption and absorption by way of confocal microscopy. For
both nano- and micronized particles no concentration-dependent impacts on
growth were found (expressed as fresh weight, frond and root sizes). In
addition, chlorophyll contents were not significantly impacted. Confocal
microscopy indicated that nano-sized plastic particles adsorbed externally
to the duckweed, especially to the roots. Internalized plastic particles
could not be detected. Nevertheless, given their important role in
ecosystems as a food source for a range of organisms, the adsorption of
plastic particles to S. polyrhiza roots as detected in this study can
result in the transfer of plastic particles to diverse herbivorous species
within the ecosystem.