Influence of global change factors, especially microplastics, on plant performance

Microplastics are omnipresent and occur in all ecosystems. They can have various effects on plants. A proposed solution to the pervasive plastic pollution are biodegradable plastics. However, their effects in environments are an even greater unknown than the effects of conventional plastic. The interaction of microplastic with other global change factors, such as droughts and overfertilisation, is also understudied. In this project, the short-, mid- and long-term effects of conventional and biodegradable microplastic exposure on the growth and metabolic profile of lettuce are investigated. Furthermore, interactive effects of the global change factors microplastics, drought and eutrophication are investigated. Several germination tests, greenhouse experiments and field trials are conducted and morphological and biochemical traits will be determined.