biostudies-literaturePriyadarshani HMCNarodowe Centrum Nauki3807https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12852693biostudies-literatureUnknown16(1)Paracetamol, a widely used analgesic and antipyretic, has emerged as a prevalent environmental pollutant that poses risks to various organisms, including plants. Phytoremediation, particularly the use of Cucurbitaceae family plants, offers a promising, eco-friendly approach to mitigate such pollutants. This study investigated the bioaccumulation of paracetamol in zucchini (Cucurbita pepo cv. Atena Polka) and explored the role of the fungicide benomyl in modulating paracetamol bioaccumulation. Additionally, the impacts of these compounds on zucchini health (measured by biomass, chlorophyll content, and phenolic compound concentrations) and on the diversity of the endophytic microbiome (assessed via the Biolog EcoPlate™ and identification of isolated endophytes via 16S rRNA gene sequencing) Scientific reportsBenomyl modulates paracetamol bioaccumulation and endophytic microbiome diversity in zucchini.PMC128526932023/51/B/NZ9/00540Giebultowicz JMierzejewska-Sinner EKozka BUrbaniak MPriyadarshani HMCfalseBenomyl modulates paracetamol bioaccumulation and endophytic microbiome diversity in zucchini.Paracetamol, a widely used analgesic and antipyretic, has emerged as a prevalent environmental pollutant that poses risks to various organisms, including plants. Phytoremediation, particularly the use of Cucurbitaceae family plants, offers a promising, eco-friendly approach to mitigate such pollutants. This study investigated the bioaccumulation of paracetamol in zucchini (Cucurbita pepo cv. Atena Polka) and explored the role of the fungicide benomyl in modulating paracetamol bioaccumulation. Additionally, the impacts of these compounds on zucchini health (measured by biomass, chlorophyll content, and phenolic compound concentrations) and on the diversity of the endophytic microbiome (assessed via the Biolog EcoPlate™ and identification of isolated endophytes via 16S rRNA gene sequencing) 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Dec2026-06-15T04:48:25.369Z2026-06-15T03:08:42.433ZS-EPMC128526934145708110.1038/s41598-025-33977-6