Research Article

The Effects of Microplastic and Copper Treatments on the Number of Leaves, Stem, and Root Diameters in Tomato and Kale

Volume: 9 Number: 2 December 18, 2025
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

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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