We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Bacterial community in the buckwheat rhizosphere responds more sensitively to single microplastics in lead-contaminated soil compared to the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community
Summary
Researchers examined how polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics, combined with lead contamination, affect buckwheat rhizosphere microbial communities. They found that bacterial communities responded more sensitively to microplastic exposure than arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, with microplastics altering soil bacterial diversity and composition even at low concentrations. The study suggests that microplastics in heavy metal-contaminated agricultural soils may disrupt the beneficial microbial communities that support crop growth.
Soil pollution by microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles <5 mm, and heavy metals is a significant environmental issue. However, studies on the co-contamination effects of MPs and heavy metals on buckwheat rhizosphere microorganisms, especially on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community, are limited. We introduced low (0.01 g kg-1) and high doses of lead (Pb) (2 g kg-1) along with polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA) MPs, both individually and in combination, into soil and assessed soil properties, buckwheat growth, and rhizosphere bacterial and AMF communities in a 40-day pot experiment. Notable alterations were observed in soil properties such as pH, alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), and the available Pb (APb). High-dose Pb combined with PLA-MPs hindered buckwheat growth. Compared to the control, bacterial Chao1 richness and Shannon diversity were lower in the high dose Pb with PLA treatment, and differentially abundant bacteria were mainly detected in the high Pb dose treatments. Variations in bacterial communities correlated with APb, pH and AN. Overall, the AMF community composition remained largely consistent across all treatments. This phenomenon may be due to fungi having lower nutritional demands than bacteria. Stochastic processes played a relatively important role in the assembly of both bacterial and AMF communities. In summary, MPs appeared to amplify both the positive and negative effects of high Pb doses on the buckwheat rhizosphere bacteria.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics change soil properties, heavy metal availability and bacterial community in a Pb-Zn-contaminated soil
This study found that adding six different types of microplastics to soil contaminated with lead and zinc changed the soil's chemistry, increased the availability of those toxic metals, and shifted the bacterial communities living in the soil. Higher doses of microplastics caused greater disruption, reducing microbial diversity and altering nutrient cycling. The findings suggest that microplastics in contaminated soil could make heavy metals more likely to enter plants and the food chain.
Effects of polyethylene microplastics on the microbial community structure of maize rhizosphere soil
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.
Microplastics modify plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi systems in a Pb-Zn-contaminated soil
Researchers examined how six types of microplastics affect sweet sorghum growth and soil fungal communities in soil contaminated with lead and zinc. They found that microplastics generally did not inhibit plant growth and in some cases promoted it, but they increased the uptake of heavy metals into plant shoots. The study suggests that microplastics may worsen the risks of heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils by enhancing metal accumulation in crops.
Microplastic particles alter wheat rhizosphere soil microbial community composition and function
Researchers found that microplastic particles altered wheat rhizosphere soil microbial community composition and function, with different polymer types inducing distinct shifts in bacterial diversity and nutrient cycling processes.
Microplastics in heavy metal-contaminated soil drives bacterial community and metabolic changes
Researchers found that adding common microplastics to soil already contaminated with heavy metals significantly changed the bacterial communities and their metabolic processes. The microplastics increased competition among bacteria and shifted how they process energy, while Proteobacteria became more abundant as a stress response. This matters because when microplastics and heavy metals combine in agricultural soil, they may disrupt the microbial ecosystems that keep soil healthy for growing food.