We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics modify plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi systems in a Pb-Zn-contaminated soil
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Both microplastics (MPs) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are common contaminants that widely co-occur in various soil environments. They can interact to pose higher risks to soil-plant systems, but how precisely they do remains, as yet, unclear. Here, we explored the response of sweet sorghum-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) systems to six types of MPs at the doses of 0.2% and 2% ( w /w) in an agricultural soil contaminated with 415.0 mg/kg Pb and 467.9 mg/kg Zn. MPs caused type-dependent alterations in soil properties. For example, soil pH was increased by the higher doses of both polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content was decreased by polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS), but increased by 2% PLA (+14%) and 2% PHB (+7%). The activities of catalase , urease , alkaline phosphatase , and sucrase in the soil were either unaffected or stimulated by MPs, particularly biodegradable MPs. Overall, MPs did not inhibit plant growth and even promoted it, with 0.2% PS increasing shoot and root biomass by 34.74% and 132.84%, respectively. In most cases, MPs increased shoot Pb and Zn concentrations and their phytoaccumulation. Irrespective of inhibited root mycorrhizal colonization, MPs caused non-significant changes in the richness and diversity of AMF, but substantially modified their community structure. Overall, MPs may exacerbate the risks of PTEs to plant-AMF systems, which should be considered in the management of PTE-contaminated soil. • MPs showed no inhibition and even increased plant growth in some cases. • MPs increased shoot Pb and Zn concentrations and their accumulation in plants. • MPs altered AMF community structure, enriching specific taxa in PTEs-polluted soil. • The effects of MPs were dominated by their type and less by their dose.
More Papers Like This
Interactions of microplastics and cadmium on plant growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in an agricultural soil
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics interact with cadmium contamination to affect maize growth and beneficial soil fungi in agricultural soil. While polyethylene showed minimal direct plant toxicity, high doses of polylactic acid significantly reduced maize biomass, and both plastic types altered the communities of root-associated fungi. The study suggests that co-contamination of microplastics and heavy metals in farmland can jointly disrupt plant health and soil ecosystems.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance maize cadmium resistance and reduce translocation: Dependence on microplastics concentration
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how beneficial soil fungi called arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can help maize plants resist cadmium toxicity in soils contaminated with both microplastics and heavy metals. They found that high concentrations of polyethylene microplastics worsened cadmium toxicity, but inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi significantly improved plant growth, nutrient uptake, and photosynthesis. The study suggests that these fungi could serve as a biological tool for managing crop health in soils with combined microplastic and heavy metal contamination.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance cadmium resistance and reduce translocation in maize: dependence on microplastics concentration
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi significantly enhanced cadmium tolerance in maize grown in soils co-contaminated with microplastics and heavy metals, though the protective effect was concentration-dependent — diminishing at higher microplastic loads that altered fungal colonization and root architecture.
Migration and accumulation of microplastics in soil-plant systems mediated by symbiotic microorganisms and their ecological effects
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that beneficial soil fungi (mycorrhizal fungi) actually accelerate the uptake of smaller microplastics by plant roots while slowing the uptake of larger ones. The microplastics disrupted the symbiotic relationship between the fungi and plants, reducing plant nutrient absorption and growth, which matters because crops grown in microplastic-contaminated soil may be less nutritious.
Influencing mechanisms of microplastics existence on soil heavy metals accumulated by plants
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes existing research on how microplastics in soil affect the uptake of heavy metals by plants. Microplastics can change soil chemistry and microbial communities in ways that alter how much toxic metals plants absorb through their roots. This is concerning for human health because microplastic-contaminated agricultural soil could lead to crops that contain higher levels of dangerous heavy metals.
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.