Toxic Impact of Soil Microplastics (PVC) on Two Weeds: Changes in Growth, Phenology and Photosynthesis Efficiency

Experimental evidence on the bio-ecological effects of microplastics terrestrial plants is still lacking. In this study, we hypothesized that soil polluted with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microparticles can negatively influence plant traits, photosynthetic efficiency and phenology two weeds but different strength in relation to species’ life traits. Therefore, conducted an experiment a common garden growing wild species Senecio inaequidens Centaurea cyanus for about 60 days. The possible toxic (1% PVC 100 g medium) were investigated, coupling analyses traits evaluation microplastic-induced changes terms efficiency. Overall, results showed control pots higher larger than those treated ones (C. width: p < 0.05; S. inaequidens—plant height: 0.05). Moreover, C. cyanus, (index Fv/Fm) was significantly lower treatment (p About phenology, second leaf emerged earlier treatments (day 12.2 ± 0.25 14.3 0.3, respectively; 0.001). obtained highlight may have had negative soil–plant system reducing performance plants. Since, up now, research interaction between has mainly focused agricultural plants, work fills gap knowledge regarding (weeds), highlighting future impact biodiversity.