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Effects of microplastics on cadmium accumulation by rice and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in cadmium-contaminated soil
Summary
Researchers studied how three types of microplastics interact with cadmium contamination in rice paddies, examining effects on plant growth, metal uptake, and soil fungal communities. They found that while microplastics generally increased cadmium availability in soil, they actually decreased cadmium accumulation in rice tissues. Notably, biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics caused more harm to plant growth and soil communities than conventional plastic types, challenging the assumption that biodegradable plastics are always safer.
Both microplastics (MPs) and cadmium (Cd) are common contaminants in soil-rice systems, but their combined effects remain unknown. Thereby, we explored the effects of three MPs, i.e., polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid (PLA), and polyester (PES), on Cd accumulation in rice and the community diversity and structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soil spiked with or without Cd. Results showed that 2% PLA decreased shoot biomass (-28%), but PET had a weaker inhibitive effect. Overall, Cd alone did not significantly change shoot and root biomass and increased root biomass in combination with 0.2% PES. MPs generally increased soil Cd availability but decreased Cd accumulation in rice tissues. Both MPs and Cd improved the bioavailability and uptake of Fe and Mn in rice roots. MPs altered the diversity and community composition of AMF, depending on their type and dose and co-existing Cd. Overall, 2% PLA caused the most distinct changes in soil properties, plant growth and Cd accumulation, and AMF communities, but showed no synergistic interactions with Cd. In conclusion, MPs can mediate rice performance and Cd accumulation via altering soil properties, nutrient uptake, and root mycorrhizal communities, and biodegradable PLA MPs thought environment-friendly can exhibit higher phytotoxicity than conventional MPs.
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