Efeito da interação entre microplásticos de filme mulching e pesticida tebuconazol no desenvolvimento do tomate-cereja (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

The increasing use of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulching films in agriculture has contributed to rising microplastic contamination in soils, raising concerns about their ecotoxicological effects and their interactions with pesticides. In this study, we investigated four LDPE films with different formulations and degradation levels and found that UV-C photodegradation altered their structural and chemical properties in distinct ways, thereby modifying their sorption capacity. Notably, the degraded silver film showed the highest removal of the fungicide tebuconazole from solution and proved to be the most susceptible to degradation under the conditions tested. In addition, we observed that the incorporation of pristine and degraded microplastics into the soil influenced the early development of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), promoting significant changes in biomass allocation patterns (SLA, SMF, RSR, and LMR), although total growth parameters were not consistently affected. Our findings indicate that, beyond polymer type, formulation and degradation level are key factors governing microplastic–plant interactions. By integrating degradation dynamics, sorption processes, and biological effects, this study advances the understanding of the complexity of these interactions in the environment and highlights the importance of considering chemical diversity and plastic aging in ecotoxicological assessments and environmental modeling.