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Effects of Biodegradable Microplastics on Soil andLettuce Health: Rhizosphere Microbiome and Metabolome Responses
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Two biodegradable microplastics (PBAT and PHB) were applied to soil and lettuce was grown to assess effects on rhizosphere microbiome composition and plant metabolome, finding that both biodegradable MPs altered soil microbial communities and plant metabolic responses differently.
Biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) have been widely detected in soils due to their widespread production and utilization. However, their impacts on rhizosphere microbial consortia and plant metabolic adaptation mechanisms have been insufficiently characterized. Here, two typical BMPs, polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate and polyhydroxybutyrate, were selected to assess the effects of individual and combined exposure on the rhizosphere and metabolomes of lettuce at different concentration levels (0.1 and 2%). Results revealed that both 2% BMPs inhibited lettuce growth. Similarly, 2 wt % BMPs also altered community structures. Several biomarkers, including Bacillus and Streptomyces, were identified for BMP exposure. The metabolomic analysis revealed that 2% BMPs significantly altered the root and leaf metabolomes of lettuce. Pathways and metabolites related to plant defense toward environmental stresses, like aucubin, bisnorbiotin, l-rhamnose, and niazimin, were also enriched after BMPs treatment. This study highlights the impact of BMPs on soil and plant health, improving our comprehension of their combined ecological impact on the soil environment.
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Effects of Biodegradable Microplastics on Soil and Lettuce Health: Rhizosphere Microbiome and Metabolome Responses
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Researchers tested how two common biodegradable microplastics affect lettuce growth and the microbial communities around its roots. At higher concentrations, both types of biodegradable plastics inhibited lettuce growth and significantly disrupted the balance of beneficial soil microbes and plant metabolic processes. The findings suggest that even plastics marketed as biodegradable can negatively impact soil health and crop development when present in sufficient quantities.
Conventional and biodegradable microplastics elicit contrasting taxon-level responses in rhizosphere microbiomes of maize and strawberry
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Researchers grew maize and strawberry in soil spiked with LDPE, PET, or PBAT microplastics and profiled both total and actively growing rhizosphere microbial communities, finding that biodegradable PBAT selectively enriched putative polymer-degrading taxa regardless of plant species, while conventional microplastics caused broader community-wide compositional shifts.
Responses of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth and soil properties to conventional non-biodegradable and new biodegradable microplastics
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Scientists compared the effects of biodegradable and conventional polyethylene microplastics on lettuce growth and soil health. Both types of microplastics reduced plant growth, damaged photosynthesis, and altered soil nutrient levels, but biodegradable PBAT microplastics actually caused more disruption to soil microbial communities. The findings challenge the assumption that biodegradable plastics are necessarily safer for agricultural ecosystems.
Dosages of Biodegradable Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Microplastics Affect Soil Microbial Community, Function, and Metabolome in Plant–Soil System
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Researchers examined how different concentrations of biodegradable PBAT microplastics affect soil microbial communities and lettuce growth. They found that while low concentrations had minimal impact, higher doses significantly altered soil microbial diversity, metabolic functions, and the chemical profile of the soil. The findings suggest that even biodegradable plastic mulch residues can disrupt soil ecosystems when they accumulate at higher levels.
Negative effects of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) microplastics on Arabidopsis and its root-associated microbiome
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Researchers investigated the effects of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) biodegradable microplastics on Arabidopsis thaliana and its root-associated microbiome, finding that PBAT-MPs at tested concentrations in agricultural soil caused negative impacts on plant growth and altered the composition of root-zone microbial communities.
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