We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effect of low-density polyethylene microplastics on incidence of cotton Verticillium wilt and the structure and function of rhizosphere microbial community
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that plastic pollution in soil (from broken-down plastic bags and films) made cotton plants sicker with a fungal disease and stunted their growth, likely by disrupting the balance of helpful and harmful microbes living around plant roots. While this study focused on cotton, not humans, it's a warning sign: microplastics are quietly reshaping soil ecosystems in ways that could threaten food crops, making this an emerging concern for agriculture and, ultimately, food security.
Microplastics have become a global environmental concern, but the impact of microplastics on plant disease remains poorly understood. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastics on cotton Verticillium wilt (CVW), as well as the structure and function of the soil microbial community. Metagenomic sequencing was performed to characterize the microbial community composition of the cotton rhizosphere. The experiment consisted of five treatments: a control group, and four LDPE groups with concentrations set at 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.5%, respectively. The results demonstrated that high-dose LDPE treatments reduced the cotton emergence rate by 1.47–4.41% and plant biomass by 14.58–34.64%. These findings suggest that high-dose LDPE may exert pronounced phytotoxic effects on cotton plants. Although the populations of Verticillium dahliae did not differ significantly across treatments, LDPE microplastics at concentrations of 0.5–2.5% significantly exacerbated CVW, elevating the disease index by 54.29–71.67%. Statistical analysis revealed that LDPE microplastics altered the contents of soil nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 − -N) and available phosphorus (AP), with NO 3 − -N increasing by 16.86%-85.63% and AP by 51.16–69.77%. Meanwhile, LDPE microplastics triggered substantial alterations in the structure of rhizosphere microbial communities, as well as in their functional potential (assessed via KEGG pathway annotation). Microbial community structure and KEGG pathways were both significantly changed by soil nutrients (NO 3 − -N, NH 4 + -N, AP, AK). Moreover, partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) suggested that LDPE treatment indirectly influenced DI through two pathways: one was a positive effect mediated by alternations in fungal community structure and function, and the other was a negative effect driven by changes in soil nutrients. The exacerbation of CVW was closely linked to LDPE-induced dysbiosis in the cotton rhizosphere microenvironment.
More Papers Like This
Impact of Microplastic Pollution on the Structure and Function of Soil Fungal Communities
AI summary Read the abstract
Common types of plastic pollution—like those from packaging, bottles, and synthetic fabrics—can seep into soil and change its chemistry, altering the balance of nitrogen and other nutrients that plants need to grow. This study found that these changes also disrupt the fungal communities living in soil, which play a key role in breaking down organic matter and supporting healthy crops. Since soil health directly affects the food we grow, this research is an early warning sign that microplastic pollution could quietly undermine the ecosystems our food supply depends on.
[Effects of Microplastic High-density Polyethylene on Cotton Growth, Occurrence of Fusarium wilt, and Rhizosphere Soil Bacterial Community].
AI summary Read the abstract
High-throughput sequencing revealed that 1% high-density polyethylene microplastics significantly reduced bacterial community richness in cotton rhizosphere soil and increased the incidence of Fusarium wilt by 33.3%, likely by altering beneficial microbial communities and reducing plant disease resistance.
Impacts of polyethylene microplastics on soil microbial communities and metabolism in broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.)
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists buried tiny plastic bits (the kind that break down from everyday plastic waste) in soil growing millet, a common grain crop, and found that even small amounts of this plastic pollution disrupt the soil's chemistry and shift the balance of bacteria that keep soil healthy. This matters because soil microbes help crops absorb nutrients and stay resilient, so as microplastic pollution builds up in farmland worldwide, it could quietly affect the quality and safety of the food we grow, making this an early warning sign worth watching, even though the study didn't directly test food safety or human health effects.
Effects of polyethylene microplastics on the microbial community structure of maize rhizosphere soil
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics from agricultural films affect the microbial communities in crop root zones (rhizosphere), finding shifts in bacterial diversity and function. Disrupting soil microbiomes through microplastic contamination could have downstream effects on soil fertility and crop health.
Integrating field investigations and microcosm experiments to reveal the impacts of environmentally relevant concentration microplastics on soil micro-food webs
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics are building up in soil all around us, and this study found they're already shifting the balance of bacteria, fungi, and tiny worms that keep soil healthy and able to grow our food. The good news: current real-world pollution levels seem to make soil ecosystems more active and complex, but the study warns that if plastic pollution keeps increasing, it could eventually break down these soil systems and make them more fragile, something worth watching since healthy soil underpins the food we eat.
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.