We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Rhizosphere and endophytic microbiomes as biological buffers against microplastic pollution: Mechanisms and remediation strategies
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes existing research on tiny plastic particles contaminating farm soils, which can harm plants and reduce crop yields by 25 to 50 percent. It describes how certain soil and plant-associated bacteria and fungi, including Pseudomonas and Bacillus, can break down these plastics and help plants cope with the resulting stress.
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) contamination in agricultural soils has emerged as a critical threat to global food security. These persistent pollutants, originating from mulching films, biosolids, atmospheric deposition, and irrigation water, disrupt soil properties, induce phytotoxicity through oxidative stress and membrane damage, and compromise crop productivity by 25-50%. This review examines the pivotal role of rhizosphere and endophytic microbiomes as biological buffers that mitigate MNPs' impacts on plant-soil systems. We synthesize current knowledge across several domains, including the fate and impacts of MNPs in agriculture, microbial compositional and functional responses to plastic pollution, enzymatic biodegradation mechanisms, and plant stress alleviation strategies. This review introduces new microbial strategies for MNP degradation, combining enzymatic depolymerization, EPS-mediated immobilization, and root exudate-driven co-metabolism to enhance biodegradation efficiency. Additionally, we present a rational design framework for synthetic microbial consortia, focusing on their potential for targeted remediation of microplastics in agricultural systems. Furthermore, we discuss how these strategies can be integrated within circular economy frameworks to foster sustainable agricultural practices. Evidence demonstrates that specialized microbial taxa, including Pseudomonas , Bacillus , Rhodococcus , Streptomyces , and white-rot fungi, employ complementary strategies to degrade MNPs and alleviate plant stress. Future priorities include scaling laboratory findings to field conditions, integrating microbiome management with precision agriculture, and developing climate-resilient consortia. Harnessing rhizosphere and endophytic microbiomes represents a sustainable, nature-based solution for building plastic-resilient agricultural systems.
More Papers Like This
Role of Plant GrowthRegulators and Biological, Chemical,Nutrient, and Nanomaterial-Based Approaches in Mitigating Micro- andNanoplastic Stress in Agroecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles from pollution are building up in farm soil and can stunt crop growth, which matters because those crops end up on our plates. This review rounds up existing research on ways to fight back, showing that things like helpful soil bacteria, natural plant hormones, and nutrient treatments can help crops grow better and stay healthier even when contaminated with these plastics. While the solutions are promising, more research is still needed to turn these strategies into real-world farming practices that could ultimately mean less plastic contamination in our food supply.
Plant-driven strategies for mitigating microplastic pollution in agricultural ecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers review how microplastics damage agricultural soils and crops — disrupting soil structure, starving plants of nutrients, and triggering oxidative stress — and explore plant- and microbe-based strategies like root-associated bacteria and biochar amendments as promising but underexplored tools for cleaning up plastic-contaminated farmland.
Micro and nanoplastic pollution in agricultural soils: effects on rhizosphere processes and phytotoxicity
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles are building up in farm soil, even more than in the ocean, and this review of existing research shows they can disrupt the delicate root zone where plants absorb nutrients and interact with helpful microbes. This disruption can stunt plant growth and potentially affect crop quality, meaning the food we eat could be another route by which plastic pollution reaches our bodies. More research is still needed to fully understand how these plastics harm plants, but the findings signal that fixing plastic waste management in farming is an urgent priority.
Microplastics in the rhizosphere: unraveling plant–microbe–soil interactions and consequences for crop resilience
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic bits from mulch, wastewater, and compost are building up in farm soil, and this review of existing research shows they can stunt plant growth, block nutrient uptake, and throw off the balance of helpful vs. harmful soil microbes that crops depend on. This matters because unhealthy soil means less resilient, potentially lower-quality crops — and since these same microplastics are already showing up in our food and water, understanding their effects on farmland is a key piece of the bigger puzzle about plastic's impact on what ends up on our plates.
[Adverse Effects and Underlying Mechanisms of Soil Microplastics on Crops and Its Preventive Strategies].
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes the pollution status of microplastics in agricultural soils and their adverse effects on crops, including mechanical damage, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity leading to disrupted plant growth and metabolism. Researchers also examined how hazardous substances released from microplastics and contaminants adsorbed onto their surfaces contribute to soil ecosystem harm. The study identifies source control and biodegradation as the most promising strategies for reducing microplastic risks to crop production.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.