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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) microplastics on Arabidopsis thaliana growth and root-associated microbiome composition in agricultural soil, at a concentration of 2% by weight. Results revealed negative effects on plant growth and alterations to the rhizosphere microbial community, raising concerns about the ecological safety of this widely used biodegradable mulch film material.
Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is a biodegradable polymer that is widely used in the production of biodegradable mulch films in order to reduce the white pollution caused by non-biodegradable polyethylene mulch. Despite its widespread use in agriculture, the effects of PBAT microplastics (PBAT-MPs) on plant growth and microbial communities have rarely been reported. In this study, Arabidopsis thaliana were planted as model crop in soil containing 2 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/558926/document
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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.
Negative effects of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) microplastics on Arabidopsis and its root-associated microbiome
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Researchers found that the biodegradable plastic PBAT had greater inhibitory effects on Arabidopsis growth than conventional LDPE microplastics, disrupting photosynthesis and altering root-associated microbial communities in ways that suggest biodegradable plastics are not necessarily safer for soil ecosystems.
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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.
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This study examined how the biodegradable plastic PBAT degrades in soil and what effects its degradation products have on Chinese cabbage growth and soil microbial diversity, finding that degradation varied with particle size and that soil microbiomes shifted as PBAT broke down. The findings matter for assessing whether "biodegradable" mulch films truly disappear benignly or leave behind microplastic fragments and microbial disruption in agricultural soils.
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