DOI: 10.5061/dryad.1jwstqk6w
title: Polyester microfibers delay growth of cherry tomato (<em>Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme</em>) throughout the lifecycle

description: Agroecosystems are increasingly recognized as major basins for terrestrial
 microplastics. Many agricultural practices have led to high loading of
 plastic mulch films, synthetic microfibers, and other microplastics onto
 fields. There is demonstrated ability for microplastics to influence soil
 properties and plant productivity, but these effects are highly variable
 by species, soil, and life stage. Here, we conduct a lifecycle assessment
 of how polyester microfibers, a dominant biosolid contaminant, affect the
 development of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) in
 peaty growing medium. We distinguish the importance of physical and
 chemical characteristics of microfibers by comparing plants in soil
 containing microfibers at 0.5% soil weight, or soil watered with leachate
 isolated from microfibers. We find that polyester microfibers reduce
 emergence success by 11%, delay flowering and ripening time by several
 days, and lead to a reduction in biomass in adult plants.
  However, we observe no effect of chemical additives from
 microfibers on plant development. We also note a decrease in soil water
 holding capacity from microfibers. Overall, we conclude that physical
 microfiber properties or physical/chemical interactions are the likely
 drivers of biological effects. These findings emphasize that microfibers
 have impacts beyond mineral soils and consequences at every stage of plant
 development.
description: # Polyester microfibers delay growth of cherry tomato (*Solanum
 lycopersicum var. cerasiforme*) throughout the lifecycle Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.1jwstqk6w](10.5061/dryad.1jwstqk6w) ## Description of the
 data and file structure This dataset includes data from a greenhouse
 experiment looking at the impact of microfibers and microfiber chemical
 leachate on germination, growth, and fruit production in cherry tomato
 (*Solanum lycopersicum* *var.* *cerasiforme*). The experiment was
 performed at the University of Toronto in 2020-2021. There were two
 treatments (soil with added polyester microfibers, soil watered with
 leachate from polyester microfibers) and a control. The data files include
 information on the organization of samples into blocks in the greenhouse,
 the timing and success of germination, the height and above and
 belowground dry biomass, the timing to flowering and number of flowers
 produced, and the timing of fruit set, fruit development, fruit number,
 and dry fruit biomass, and the soil water holding capacity of soil with
 and without microfibers. Djuric et al block by sample.csv: Sample codes
 and greenhouse block assignments for both treatments and the control
 (microfibers = FIB, leachate = LEA, control = CON) Djuric et al plant
 number reference.csv: Sample codes and the reference plant number for the
 experiment. Djuric et al treatment reference.csv: Sample codes for both
 treatments and the control (microfibers = FIB, leachate = LEA, control =
 CON) Djuric et al emergence times.csv: Plant germination/emergence over
 time by pot Djuric et al emergence height.csv: Plant germination and
 height over time by pot Djuric et al flowering times.csv: Plant flowering
 times by pot in days since germination Djuric et al fruit set.csv: Plant
 fruit number and development data (days to first yellow and days to first
 red) by pot in days since germination Djuric et al reproductive
 biomass.csv: Plant fruit number and the dry weight of green and red fruit
 biomass at harvest Djuric et al seedling height.csv: Plant growth in
 height at the seedling stage Duric et al soil water holding capacity.csv:
 Samples of soil water holding capacity in soil with and without
 microplastics Djuric et al vegetative biomass.csv: Mass in grams of above
 and belowground dry biomass after harvest Djuric et al. vegetative
 height.csv: Plant growth in height at the adult stage Djuric et al.
 germination biomass.csv : Mass in grams of aboveground biomass at end of
 seedling stage ### Files and variables #### File:
 Djuric_et_al_block_by_sample.csv **Description:** Organization of samples
 by block ##### Variables * PLANT_ID: Sample ID (CON = control, FIB =
 polyester microfiber treatment, LEA = leachate treatment) * BLOCK: Block
 assignment in the greenhouse #### File:
 Djuric_et_al_plant_number_reference.csv **Description:** Organization of
 samples by unique plant number ##### Variables * PLANT_ID: Sample ID (CON
 = control, FIB = polyester microfiber treatment, LEA = leachate treatment)
 * PLANT_NUM: Unique value for identifying every plant #### File:
 Djuric_et_al_treatment_reference.csv **Description:** Organization of
 samples by treatment ##### Variables * PLANT_ID: Sample ID (CON = control,
 FIB = polyester microfiber treatment, LEA = leachate treatment) *
 TREATMENT: corresponding treatment spelled out in full #### File:
 Djuric_et_al_emergence_times.csv **Description:** Timing of
 germination/emergence of seedlings ##### Variables * PLANT_ID: Sample ID
 (CON = control, FIB = polyester microfiber treatment, LEA = leachate
 treatment)  * PLANT_NUM: Plant number assignment * TREATMENT: Sample type
 (plant grown in soil with polyester microfibers, plant grown in soil
 watered with leachate made from polyester microfibers, plant grown in
 potting soil with no additions) * SEED_DATE: Date the seed was planted *
 SEED_TIME: Time the seed was planted * SEED_DATETIME: Date and time the
 seed was planted in a single column * FINAL_GERMSTATUS: Did the seed
 germinate (yes/no)? * DAYS_TO_GERM_CLOSED: Days between planting and
 germination * GERMDATE_CLOSED: Date germination was observed *
 GERMTIME_CLOSED: Time germination was observed *
 GERM_DATETIME_CLOSED: Date and time the germination was first observed in
 a single column Blank cells within rows occur where data is not
 applicable. #### File: Djuric_et_al_emergence_height.csv **Description:** 
 Height of emerged seedlings up until transplant ##### Variables *
 PLANT_ID: Sample ID (CON = control, FIB = polyester microfiber treatment,
 LEA = leachate treatment)  * PLANT_NUM: Plant number assignment *
 TREATMENT: Sample type (plant grown in soil with polyester microfibers,
 plant grown in soil watered with leachate made from polyester microfibers,
 plant grown in potting soil with no additions) * DATE: The date the
 measurement was taken * TIME: The time the measurement was taken *
 DATE_TIME: The combination of the two previous columns * GERM_DATE: The
 date the plant germinated * SEED_DATETIME: The date and time the seed was
 planted * AGE: The age of the plant at the time of observation *
 EXPERIMENT_DAY: The day of the experiment the measurement was taken *
 GERM_STATUS_HYPOCOTYL: Is the hypocotyl being measured (yes/no)? *
 GERM_STATUS_OPEN: Is the germination prior to the development of true
 leaves still in progress (yes/no)? * HEIGHT: The height of the plant above
 the soil surface in centimeters Blank cells within rows occur where data
 is not applicable. #### File: Djuric_et_al_fruit_set.csv
 **Description:** Tracking of fruit development in each pot ##### Variables
 * PLANT_ID: Sample ID (CON = control, FIB = polyester microfiber
 treatment, LEA = leachate treatment) * PLANT_NUM: Plant number assignment
 * TREATMENT: Sample type (plant grown in soil with polyester microfibers,
 plant grown in soil watered with leachate made from polyester microfibers,
 plant grown in potting soil with no additions) * BLOCK: Block in the
 greenhouse * FLOW_DATE: Date of first flowering * GERM_DATE: Date of
 germination * DAYS_TO_YELLOW: Days until yellow was visible on the fruit *
 DAYS_TO_FIRST_RED: Days until red was visible on the fruit * FIRST_YELLOW:
 Date that yellow was first visible on the fruit * FIRST_RED: Date that red
 was first visible on the fruit * COMMENT: Comments Blank cells within rows
 occur where data is not applicable. #### File:
 Djuric_et_al_flowering_times.csv **Description:** Tracking of flowering
 times in each pot ##### Variables * PLANT_ID: Sample ID (CON = control,
 FIB = polyester microfiber treatment, LEA = leachate treatment) *
 PLANT_NUM: Plant number assignment * TREATMENT: Sample type (plant grown
 in soil with polyester microfibers, plant grown in soil watered with
 leachate made from polyester microfibers, plant grown in potting soil with
 no additions) * BLOCK: Block in the greenhouse * FLOW_DATE: Date of first
 flowering * GERM_DATE: Date of germination * DAYS_TO_FLOW: Days between
 emergence and flowering #### File: Djuric_et_al_reproductive_biomass.csv
 **Description:** Tracking of the dry biomass of fruits in each pot #####
 Variables * PLANT_ID: Sample ID (CON = control, FIB = polyester microfiber
 treatment, LEA = leachate treatment) * HARVEST_DATE: Date the plant was
 harvested * GERM_DATE: Date the plant germinated * AGE: The age of the
 plant in days between germination and harvest * RED_FRUIT_NUM: The number
 of ripe fruits at the time of harvest * GREEN_FRUIT_NUM: The number of
 green fruits at the time of harvest * ROOT_BIOMASS: The dry biomass of
 roots (belowground biomass) in grams * SHOOT_BIOMASS: The dry biomass of
 shoots (aboveground biomass without fruits) in grams * RED_FRUIT_BIOMASS:
 The dry biomass of red (ripe) fruit at the time of harvest in grams *
 GREEN_FRUIT_BIOMASS: The dry biomass of green (unripe) fruit at the time
 of harvest in grams #### File:
 Djuric_et_al_soil_water_holding_capacity.csv **Description:** Data
 associated with a small experiment assessing the water holding capacity of
 potting soil with and without the addition of polyester microfibers #####
 Variables * POT_ID: Assigned pot number, independent of treatment *
 TREATMENT: Indicated the treatment (Fiber = soil with polyester
 microfibers, Control = unaltered potting soil) * TOTAL_VOLUME: The total
 volume of soil added to the pot in cm^3 * DRY_SOIL_WEIGHT: The dry weight
 of soil in grams * VOLUME_ADDED: The total volume of water added to the
 pot in cm^3 * VOLUME_LEACHED: The total volume of water lost from the pot
 over the period of observation in cm^3 * POROSITY_AIR_PLUS_WATER: The
 volume of water added / the volume of soil multiplied by 100 *
 POROSITY_AIR: The volume of water leached / the volume of soil multiplied
 by 100 * WHC: The porosity of air plus water - the porosity of air ####
 File: Djuric_et_al_vegetative_biomass.csv **Description:** The dry biomass
 of above and belowground vegetative tissue ##### Variables *
 PLANT_ID: Sample ID (CON = control, FIB = polyester microfiber treatment,
 LEA = leachate treatment) * PLANT_NUM: Plant number assignment *
 TREATMENT: Sample type (plant grown in soil with polyester microfibers,
 plant grown in soil watered with leachate made from polyester microfibers,
 plant grown in potting soil with no additions) * BLOCK: Sample block in
 the greenhouse * GERM_DATE: Date the plant germinated * HARVEST_DATE: Date
 the plant was harvested * AGE: The age of the plant in days at the time of
 harvest * SHOOT_DRY_BIOMASS: The dry weight of aboveground biomass
 (excluding fruits) in grams * ROOT_DRY_BIOMASS: The dry weight
 below-ground biomass in grams The blank ROOT_DRY_BIOMASS in CON_33 is
 missing data. #### File: Djuric_et_al_seedling_height.csv
 **Description:** Tracking the growth and leaf production for each pot
 throughout the experiment ##### Variables * PLANT_ID: Sample ID (CON =
 control, FIB = polyester microfiber treatment, LEA = leachate treatment) *
 PLANT_NUM: Plant number assignment * TREATMENT: Sample type (plant grown
 in soil with polyester microfibers, plant grown in soil watered with
 leachate made from polyester microfibers, plant grown in potting soil with
 no additions) * DATE: The date the measurement was taken * TIME: The time
 the measurement was taken * DATE_TIME: The combination of the two previous
 columns * GERM_DATE: The date the plant germinated * SEED_DATETIME: The
 date and time the seed was planted * AGE: The age of the plant at the time
 of observation * EXPERIMENT_DAY: The day of the experiment, the
 measurement was taken * GERM_STATUS_HYPOCOTYL: Is the hypocotyl being
 measured (yes/no)? * GERM_STATUS_OPEN: Is the germination prior to the
 development of true leaves still in progress (yes/no)? * HEIGHT: The
 height of the plant above the soil surface in centimeters * LEAF_NUM: The
 number of leaves visible on the plant * COT_CHANGE: Indicated a change in
 the number of visible cotyledons * MAX_LEAF_NUM: The maximum number of
 leaves observed on the day of measurement Blank cells occur where data is
 not applicable due to a plant not having reached the appropriate growth
 stage yet. #### File: Djuric_et_al_vegetative_height.csv
 **Description:** Tracking the height of plants after seedling transplant *
 PLANT_ID: Sample ID (CON = control, FIB = polyester microfiber treatment,
 LEA = leachate treatment) * PLANT_NUM: Plant number assignment *
 TREATMENT: Sample type (plant grown in soil with polyester microfibers,
 plant grown in soil watered with leachate made from polyester microfibers,
 plant grown in potting soil with no additions) * BLOCK: Sample block in
 the greenhouse * GERM_DATE: The date the plant germinated * DATE: The date
 the measurement was taken * AGE: The age of the plant at the time of
 observation * HEIGHT: The height of the plant above the soil surface in
 centimeters #### File: Djuric_et_al_germination_biomass.csv
 **Description:**  The dry biomass in grams of aboveground biomass at
 transplant out of seed starters * PLANT_ID: Sample ID (CON = control, FIB
 = polyester microfiber treatment, LEA = leachate treatment) *
 PLANT_NUM: Plant number assignment * TREATMENT: Sample type (plant grown
 in soil with polyester microfibers, plant grown in soil watered with
 leachate made from polyester microfibers, plant grown in potting soil with
 no additions) * GERM_DATE: The date the plant germinated * HARVEST_DATE:
 The date the plant was destructively sampled * AGE: The age of the plant
 at the time of observation * BRANCH_NUM: The number of plant leaves *
 TOTAL_BIOMASS: The biomass in grams of the plant at destructive harvest.
 Blank values represent missing data. ## Code/software We executed all
 graphs and analyses in RStudio version 1.4.1717, and ran models with the
 ‘lme4’ and ‘lmerTest’ packages in R unless otherwise specified. All graphs
 were produced in ggplot2. **File: Code-Djuric-et-al.Rmd** **Description**:
 The key code used to analyze and visualize data in the manuscript
 (emergence success, biomass, height, phenology, and soil properties). All
 csv files needed to run this code are included.