Reclaiming multi-contaminated soil: melatonin alleviates cadmium and microplastic toxicity to restore rice growth and yield.

ABSTRACT: The increasing presence of cadmium (Cd) and microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soils is a serious challenge to crop productivity and human health. Melatonin (MT) is a vital protectant that mitigates abiotic stresses, and it has shown promising results in mitigating Cd toxicity. Its specific role in mitigating the combined stress of Cd and MPs remains unexplored, which distinguishes our study from recent studies on single stressors. This study investigated the roles of MT in modulating plant physiological function, cadmium uptake and soil properties to increase rice resilience to combined Cd and MP stress. The study included different treatments: control (soil without Cd and MPs), Cd-polluted soil (30 mg kg^-1), MP-contaminated soil (1%), Cd + MPs, control (soil without Cd and MP

SUBMITTER: Zhiming X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12896129 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature