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Effects of microplastics and DBP on photosynthesis and nutritional quality of lettuce
Received:September 27, 2020  
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KeyWord:microplastics;compound pollution;antioxidant activity;photosynthesis;lettuce;quality
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
WANG Cheng-wei School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China  
LIU Yu School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China  
SONG Zheng-guo College of Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China  
GAO Min-ling College of Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China kyforever2013@163.com 
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Abstract:
      This study explored the effect of microplastics on the photosynthesis and quality of lettuce seedlings under the stress of dibutyl phthalate(DBP). The toxic effects of the compound pollution of polystyrene(PS, 100~400 nm and 10~15 μm) and DBP on lettuce(Lactuca sativa L.) was investigated using hydroponic culturing. Compared with DBP alone, the presence of PS reduced lettuce photosynthesis under the stress of DBP, including the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transient transpiration rate, while the internal CO2 concentration increased. This indicates that the non-stomatal factor is responsible for decreasing photosynthesis. Compared to the control and DBP only, the combined pollution of PS and DBP decreased optimal PSⅡ efficiency and electron transfer efficiency, inhibited ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase activity, and reduced chlorophyll content in the lettuce leaves, but significantly increased the ascorbic acid and glutathione content. In addition, the presence of PS with two particle sizes significantly reduced the soluble protein and sugar content in lettuce leaves treated with DBP and increased the nitrite content, indicating that the presence of PS aggravated the negative effects of DBP on lettuce quality. The combined pollution of PS and DBP significantly inhibited photosynthesis and glucose metabolism, which in turn decreased lettuce quality.