Effects of microplastic and copper applications on chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in kale and tomato

Year 2025, Volume: 42 Issue: 2, 133 - 141, 30.08.2025

Büşra Çil , Neslihan Karavin

https://doi.org/10.55507/gopzfd.1668445

Abstract

Microplastics (MP) are important pollutants observed almost everywhere in the ecosphere and threaten agricultural ecosystems due to modern agricultural practices. The MPs change the soil structure and affect plant growth. This study investigated individual and combined effects of MP and copper (Cu) on chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala DC) plants. Experimental groups were treated with 100 ppm and 500 ppm CuSO₄ and 0.5%, 1.5% and 2.5% MP concentrations. The MPs were obtained by cutting polyethylene films. Chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were measured spectrophotometrically and analyzed using one-way ANOVA. In tomato plants, 1.5% MP application and the combination of 500 ppm Cu and 1.5% MP decreased the chlorophyll a content by 3% compared to the control (p<0.05), while the combination of 100 ppm Cu and 0.5% MP increased it by 2.5%. In tomato, 100 ppm Cu and 0.5% MP application decreased the chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll contents by 29% and 14%, respectively, while other applications caused an increase (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the carotenoid contents compared to the control group. In kale, chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents did not significantly vary compared to the control group, while 500 ppm Cu application increased the amount of chlorophyll b by 15% (p<0.05). The results showed that tomato was more sensitive to Cu and MP applications than kale. The response in plants varied depending on whether Cu and MP were applied individually or combined.

Keywords

Copper , kale , microplastic , tomato , stress , mulch

Ethical Statement

There is no need to obtain permission from the ethics committee for this study.

Supporting Institution

The authors also wish to thank the 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.

Project Number

FMB-BAP 21-0517 and FMB-BAP 22-0580

Thanks

The authors also wish to thank the 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.

Mikroplastik ve bakır uygulamalarının karalahana ve domateste klorofil ve karotenoid üzerine etkileri

Abstract

Mikroplastikler (MP) ekosferin hemen her yerinde gözlenen önemli kirleticilerdir ve modern tarım uygulamaları nedeniyle tarımsal ekosistemleri de tehdit etmektedirler. MP'ler toprağın yapısını değiştirir ve bitki gelişimi etkiler. Bu çalışmada, mikroplastik (MP) ve bakır (Cu) uygulamalarının domates (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) ve karalahana (Brassica oleracea var. acephala DC) bitkilerinin klorofil ve karotenoid içerikleri üzerine ayrı ayrı ve kombine etkileri araştırılmıştır. Deney grupları 100 ppm ve 500 ppm CuSO₄ ve %0.5, %1.5 ve %2.5 konsantrasyonlarında MP ile muamele edilmiştir. mikroplastikler polietilen malç naylonunun kesilmesiyle elde edilmiştir. Klorofil a, b, toplam klorofil ve karotenoid içerikleri spektrofotometrik olarak ölçülmüş ve tek yönlü ANOVA kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Domates bitkilerinde %1,5 MP uygulaması ile 500 ppm Cu ve %1,5 MP kombinasyonu klorofil a içeriğini kontrole kıyasla %3 oranında azaltırken (p<0,05), 100 ppm Cu ve %0.5 MP kombinasyonu %2.5 oranında artırmıştır. Domateste 100 ppm Cu ve %0.5 MP uygulaması klorofil b ve toplam klorofil içeriklerini sırasıyla %29 ve %14 oranlarında azaltırken, diğer uygulamalar artışa neden olmuştur (p<0,05). Karotenoid miktarında ise kontrol grubuna kıyasla önemli bir farklılık olmamıştır. Karalahanada klorofil a, toplam klorofil ve karotenoid miktarları kontrol grubuna kıyasla önemli bir farklılık göstermezken, 500 ppm Cu uygulaması klorofil b miktarını %15 oranında artırmıştır (p<0,05). Sonuçlar, domatesin, karalahanaya göre Cu ve MP uygulamalarına karşı daha duyarlı olduğu göstermektedir. Bitkilerde oluşan yanıt, Cu ve MP'in ayrı ayrı ya da birlikte uygulanmasına bağlı olarak değişmiştir.

Keywords

Bakır , domates , karalahana , mikroplastik , stres , malç

Project Number

FMB-BAP 21-0517 and FMB-BAP 22-0580

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