TR
EN
The Effects of Microplastic and Copper Treatments on the Number of Leaves, Stem, and Root Diameters in Tomato and Kale
Abstract
Microplastics and heavy metals, which originated from irrigation water, fertilizers, pesticides, vehicles, and agricultural processes such as cover material treatments, are significant pollutants in agricultural ecosystems. Their harmful effects pose a threat to the health of organisms and ecosystems. This study aimed to determine the effects of microplastic and copper treatments on the number of leaves stem and root diameter in tomato Lycopersicum esculentum L.) and kale (Brassica oleraceae L. var. acephala DC.) plants. Microplastics were obtained by cutting agricultural mulch, used as a cover material, into small pieces (2.5 mm-4 mm) using scissors. Twelve experimental sets were created using microplastic concentrations of 0%, 0.5%, 1.5%, and 2.5%, along with copper sulphate (CuSO₄) at concentrations of 100 ppm and 500 ppm. The number of leaves, the stem and root diameters of the plants were measured. While the number of leaves, stem and root diameters in tomato plants, as well as the stem and root diameters in kale plants, did not significantly vary with microplastic and copper (Cu) treatments, significant differences were observed in the number of leaves in kale plants. The maximum and minimum leaf numbers were observed in the control group and the experimental set where 500 ppm CuSO₄ + 0.5% microplastic was applied, respectively. Different results emerged when microplastics and Cu were applied separately and together. These findings highlight the need for future studies that explore the long-term effects of microplastics and heavy metals on various plant species under different environmental conditions and using multiple physiological and biochemical parameters.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
Amasya University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit
Project Number
FMB-BAP 21-0517 and FMB-BAP 22-0580
Ethical Statement
Ethics committee approval is not required for this study.
Thanks
The authors also wish to thank the administrators and academicians of Suluova Vocational School, whose laboratory facilities were used in this study, and Amasya University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit for its financial support to our study with the projects of FMB-BAP 21-0517 and FMB-BAP 22-0580.
References
- Adamczewska-Sowińska, K., Bykowy, J., & Jaworska, J. (2025). Effect of Biodegradable Mulch and Different Synthetic Mulches on Growth and Yield of Field-Grown Small-Fruited Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Agriculture, 15(2), 212. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15020212
- Akyıldız, M. & Karataş, B. (2018). Adana şehir merkezindeki topraklarda ağır metal kirliliğinin araştırılması. Çukurova Üniversitesi Mühendislik-Mimarlık Fakültesi Dergisi, 33(2), 199-214. https://doi.org/10.21605/cukurovaummfd.509559
- Alibas, İ., & Okursoy, R. (2012). Karalahana (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala), Pazı (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla) ve Ispanak (Spinacia oleracea L.) yapraklarının bazı teknik özellikleri. Uludağ Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, 26(1), 39-48.
- Allen, S., Allen, D., Phoenix, V.R., Le Roux, G., Durántez Jiménez, P., Simonneau, A., ... & Galop, D. (2019). Atmospheric transport and deposition of microplastics in a remote mountain catchment. Nature Geoscience, 12(5), 339-344. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-019-0335-5
- Ambrosini, V.G., Rosa, D.J., Prado, J.P.C., Borghezan, M., de Melo, G.W.B., de Sousa Soares, C.R.F., ... & Brunetto, G. (2015). Reduction of copper phytotoxicity by liming: A study of the root anatomy of young vines (Vitis labrusca L.). Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 96, 270-280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.08.012
- Apaydın, A. (2005). Investigation of soil pollution orijinated from industries: Samsun-Tekkeköy Region. Retrieved from: https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/giris.jsp
- Arduini, I., Godbold, D.L., & Onnis, A. (1995). Influence of copper on root growth and morphology of Pinus pinea L. and Pinus pinaster Ait. seedlings. Tree Physiology, 15(6), 411-415. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/15.6.411
- Ayaz, F.A., Hayırlıoglu-Ayaz, S., Alpay-Karaoglu, S., Grúz, J., Valentová, K., Ulrichová, J., & Strnad, M. (2008). Phenolic acid contents of kale (Brassica oleraceae L. var. acephala DC.) extracts and their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Food Chemistry, 107(1), 19-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2007.07.003
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Botany (Other)
Journal Section
Research Article
Early Pub Date
September 30, 2025
Publication Date
December 18, 2025
Submission Date
March 16, 2025
Acceptance Date
September 9, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 2
APA
Çil, B., & Karavin, N. (2025). The Effects of Microplastic and Copper Treatments on the Number of Leaves, Stem, and Root Diameters in Tomato and Kale. Commagene Journal of Biology, 9(2), 179-186. https://doi.org/10.31594/commagene.1658960
AMA
1.Çil B, Karavin N. The Effects of Microplastic and Copper Treatments on the Number of Leaves, Stem, and Root Diameters in Tomato and Kale. Comm. J. Biol. 2025;9(2):179-186. doi:10.31594/commagene.1658960
Chicago
Çil, Büşra, and Neslihan Karavin. 2025. “The Effects of Microplastic and Copper Treatments on the Number of Leaves, Stem, and Root Diameters in Tomato and Kale”. Commagene Journal of Biology 9 (2): 179-86. https://doi.org/10.31594/commagene.1658960.
EndNote
Çil B, Karavin N (December 1, 2025) The Effects of Microplastic and Copper Treatments on the Number of Leaves, Stem, and Root Diameters in Tomato and Kale. Commagene Journal of Biology 9 2 179–186.
IEEE
[1]B. Çil and N. Karavin, “The Effects of Microplastic and Copper Treatments on the Number of Leaves, Stem, and Root Diameters in Tomato and Kale”, Comm. J. Biol., vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 179–186, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.31594/commagene.1658960.
ISNAD
Çil, Büşra - Karavin, Neslihan. “The Effects of Microplastic and Copper Treatments on the Number of Leaves, Stem, and Root Diameters in Tomato and Kale”. Commagene Journal of Biology 9/2 (December 1, 2025): 179-186. https://doi.org/10.31594/commagene.1658960.
JAMA
1.Çil B, Karavin N. The Effects of Microplastic and Copper Treatments on the Number of Leaves, Stem, and Root Diameters in Tomato and Kale. Comm. J. Biol. 2025;9:179–186.
MLA
Çil, Büşra, and Neslihan Karavin. “The Effects of Microplastic and Copper Treatments on the Number of Leaves, Stem, and Root Diameters in Tomato and Kale”. Commagene Journal of Biology, vol. 9, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 179-86, doi:10.31594/commagene.1658960.
Vancouver
1.Büşra Çil, Neslihan Karavin. The Effects of Microplastic and Copper Treatments on the Number of Leaves, Stem, and Root Diameters in Tomato and Kale. Comm. J. Biol. 2025 Dec. 1;9(2):179-86. doi:10.31594/commagene.1658960
