PHYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF FILTERED AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF PET MICROPLASTICS ON THE EARLY GERMINATION STAGES OF BARLEY (HORDEUM VULGARE L.)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26577/EJE208830926

Abstract

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastic is regarded as one of the most widespread anthropogenic environmental pollutants capable of exerting adverse effects on plants, particularly at the early stages of ontogenesis. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of PET on the germination of Hordeum vulgare L. seeds depending on the extraction conditions, particle size fraction, and microplastic concentration. Extracts were prepared from PET fractions of <1 mm, 1–2 mm, and 2–3 mm at concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 g/L under three treatment conditions: “hot water,” “cold water,” and “cold water + shaker.” After incubation, the samples were filtered, and the resulting extracts were used to treat barley seeds. Germination percentage, germination rate, and germination uniformity were evaluated, along with the pH of the extracts. The extracts obtained under hot-water conditions were found to exert the most adverse effects on the seeds, whereas extracts prepared in cold water without shaking, in most cases, did not differ statistically significantly from the negative control. One-way analysis of variance revealed significant intergroup differences in germination percentage (F = 14.46; p < 0.001), germination rate (F = 16.46; p < 0.001), and germination uniformity (F = 14.59; p < 0.001). Three-way ANOVA showed that the method of extract preparation, PET fraction size, and their interaction had statistically significant effects on all studied parameters, whereas extract concentration did not produce an independent significant effect. Correlation analysis revealed a statistically significant negative relationship between extract pH and germination percentage, germination rate, and germination uniformity. The obtained results indicate that the phytotoxic effect of PET in this system is determined primarily by the conditions under which the filtered aqueous extract is formed and by the size of the microplastic fraction.

Keywords: polyethylene terephthalate microplastic, barley seeds, germination percentage, germination rate, germination uniformity.

 

Author Biographies

  • Renata Khalmatova, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

    1st-year Master's student in the Educational Program “7M05105 – Genetics”, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University; Research Intern, Research Institute of Problems of Biology and Biotechnology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, e-mail: renata.ren2003@gmail.com

  • Ekaterina Mamedova, Research Institute of Problems of Biology and Biotechnology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

    Junior Researcher, Research Institute of Problems of Biology and Biotechnology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, e-mail: katya24.04.97@mail.ru

  • Anna Lovinskaya, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

    PhD, Project Leader (PI), Associate Professor of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University; Leading Researcher, Research Institute of Problems of Biology and Biotechnology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, e-mail: anna.lovinskaya@kaznu.edu.kz

  • Shynar Yrgynbayeva, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

    Senior Lecturer of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University; Senior Researcher, Research Institute of Problems of Biology and Biotechnology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, e-mail: Shynar.Yrgynbayeva@kaznu.edu.kz

  • Tamara Shalakhmetova, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

    Professor of the Department of Zoology, Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University; Chief Researcher, Research Institute of Problems of Biology and Biotechnology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, e-mail: t_shalakhmetova@mail.ru

  • Saule Kolumbayeva, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

    Professor of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University; Chief Researcher, Research Institute of Problems of Biology and Biotechnology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, e-mail: s_kolumb@mail.ru

Published

2026-09-30

Issue

Vol. 88 No. 3 (2026): Eurasian Journal of Ecology

Section

ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS ON BIOTA AND HEALTH OF THE

How to Cite

PHYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF FILTERED AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF PET MICROPLASTICS ON THE EARLY GERMINATION STAGES OF BARLEY (HORDEUM VULGARE L.). (2026). Eurasian Journal of Ecology, 88(3). https://doi.org/10.26577/EJE208830926