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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Physiological response of ectomycorrhizal fungi (Lactarius delicious) to microplastics stress
ClearEcological toxicity of microplastics, aluminum and their combination to ectomycorrhizal fungi (Lactarius delicious)
Researchers exposed ectomycorrhizal fungi (Lactarius deliciosus) to polystyrene microplastics and aluminum separately and in combination, finding both pollutants suppressed fungal growth, triggered oxidative stress, and disrupted antioxidant enzyme activity. The combined exposure produced compounded harm, with effects on organic acid secretion that could further impair nutrient cycling in forest soils. This matters because mycorrhizal fungi are critical to tree health and soil ecosystems, and the study shows microplastics can interact with other common soil contaminants to amplify damage.
Effects of different microplastics on the activation of soil potassium by ectomycorrhizal fungi
This study found that both polypropylene (PP) and polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics hindered the growth of an ectomycorrhizal fungus and reduced how much potassium it could release from soil for plants, with PLA being the more harmful of the two. The findings matter because mycorrhizal fungi are critical for forest nutrient cycling, and microplastic contamination of soils could quietly degrade this ecosystem service.
Effects of microplastic types and shapes on the community structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in different soil types
Researchers examined how different types and shapes of microplastics affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities across various soil types. The study found that microplastics alter soil structure and chemistry in ways that disrupt these beneficial fungi, which play crucial roles in nutrient exchange, soil stability, and water movement.
Emerging Microplastics Alter the Influences of Soil Animals on the Fungal Community Structure in Determining the Litter Decomposition of a Deciduous Tree
Researchers investigated how microplastics in forest soil affect the interactions between soil animals and fungal communities during leaf litter decomposition. They found that the presence of microplastics altered fungal community structure and disrupted the beneficial influence that soil animals normally have on decomposition processes. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in forest ecosystems could interfere with nutrient cycling by changing how decomposer communities function.
Mycorrhizal-specific responses of rhizosphere soil properties and fine-root traits to polystyrene microplastic addition in a temperate mixed forest
Researchers added polystyrene microplastics to a temperate forest and found they disrupted nutrient cycling differently depending on tree type — increasing nitrogen but decreasing phosphorus near oak-type trees, and doing the opposite near maple-type trees — suggesting microplastic pollution could reshape forest ecosystems over time.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi change toxic effects of different types of microplastics on Lactuca sativa L. by influencing plant metabolic processes
Researchers examined how beneficial soil fungi called arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi influence the toxic effects of different microplastics on lettuce. The study found that these fungi reduced the uptake and toxicity of PET microplastics but actually promoted the absorption of polypropylene and polystyrene, indicating that the interaction between soil microorganisms and microplastics depends strongly on polymer type.
Effects of Microplastics and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Soybean Growth and Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions in a sandy-loam
Researchers investigated how microplastics and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi interact to affect soybean growth and greenhouse gas emissions in sandy-loam soil, examining whether fungal colonization can mitigate microplastic-induced stress on plant development.
From the rhizosphere to plant fitness: Implications of microplastics soil pollution
Researchers exposed strawberry plants to low-density polyethylene microplastics in soil and found significant harm, including reduced chlorophyll levels, altered nutrient uptake, and increased stress responses. The microplastics also shifted the soil microbiome toward potentially harmful fungi and bacteria. These findings show that microplastics in agricultural soil can damage crop health and change the microbial community that plants depend on.
The mycorrhizal symbiosis: research frontiers in genomics, ecology, and agricultural application
This review covers the latest advances in understanding mycorrhizal fungi, which form partnerships with plant roots to help them absorb nutrients and resist stress. While not directly about microplastics, mycorrhizal networks play a critical role in soil health, and research shows that microplastic contamination in soil can disrupt these beneficial fungal partnerships. Healthy mycorrhizal networks may also help buffer plants against some negative effects of soil pollutants, including microplastics.
Potential Effects of Microplastic on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
This review examines how microplastics in soil affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, finding evidence that microplastics can alter fungal colonization of plant roots, spore production, and the broader soil microbiome, with cascading effects on plant nutrient uptake.
Microplastic fibres affect soil fungal communities depending on drought conditions with consequences for ecosystem functions
Researchers found that microplastic fibers affect soil fungal communities differently depending on whether the soil is well-watered or drought-stressed. Under normal moisture, microplastics reduced fungal diversity, but during drought they actually increased fungal richness, suggesting that the environmental impact of microplastics on soil ecosystems depends heavily on climate conditions.
Microplastic-Induced Oxidative Stress in Metolachlor-Degrading Filamentous Fungus Trichoderma harzianum
Researchers found that low-density polyethylene microplastics induced oxidative stress in the fungus Trichoderma harzianum, initially without affecting growth but progressively generating reactive oxygen species and altering the fungus's ability to degrade the herbicide metolachlor.
Migration and accumulation of microplastics in soil-plant systems mediated by symbiotic microorganisms and their ecological effects
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.
Addition of polyester microplastic fibers to soil alters the diversity and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and affects plant growth and nutrition
Researchers added polyester microplastic fibers to soil microcosms and monitored changes in microbial diversity and abundance over time, finding that fibers altered soil bacterial and fungal community structure at realistic environmental concentrations.
Time-resolved colonization patterns of bacteria and fungi on polystyrene microplastics in floodplain soils
Scientists studied how bacteria and fungi grow on tiny plastic particles (microplastics) buried in soil over several months. They found that these microbes form films on the plastic surfaces and some types can actually break down the plastic particles. This matters because microplastics are everywhere in our environment, and understanding how soil microbes interact with them could help us learn whether these plastics break down naturally or accumulate in ways that might affect our food and water.
RETRACTED: Alleviation of microplastic toxicity in soybean by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: Regulating glyoxalase system and root nodule organic acid
This retracted study investigated whether beneficial soil fungi could help soybean plants cope with microplastic contamination from polystyrene and polyethylene in soil. The original findings suggested that mycorrhizal fungi reduced microplastic toxicity by regulating the plant's stress response system and root chemistry. Note: this paper has been retracted and its conclusions should be treated with caution.
Potential impacts of two types of microplastics on Solanum lycopersicum L. and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Researchers investigated the potential impacts of two types of microplastics on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, examining how plastic pollution may disrupt plant-fungal symbiotic relationships in agricultural soils.
Mycorrhizal-specific responses of rhizosphere soil properties and fine-root traits to polystyrene microplastic addition in a temperate mixed forest
Researchers assessed how polystyrene microplastic additions affect rhizosphere soil properties and fine-root traits in a temperate mixed forest, finding increased available nitrogen but decreased available phosphorus, with contrasting responses between ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal tree species.
Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics reduces bacterial and fungal biomass in microfabricated soil models
Researchers used micro-engineered soil models to study how polystyrene nanoplastics affect soil bacteria and fungi. They found that nanoplastic exposure reduced both bacterial and fungal biomass, with bacteria showing a linear dose-dependent decline and fungi being affected even at the lowest concentrations. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution in soil may suppress the microbial communities essential for healthy soil function.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi attenuate negative impact of drought on soil functions
A meta-analysis combined with greenhouse experiments demonstrated that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi promote soil aggregation, microbial biomass, and nutrient-cycling enzyme activity, effectively buffering soil functions against drought. This protective effect is relevant to microplastic concerns because soil health is increasingly threatened by plastic pollution, and understanding natural soil defense mechanisms is important for protecting agricultural ecosystems.
Rhizosphere microbial activities in response to combined effects of drought and microplastic
Researchers studied how combined drought stress and microplastic contamination affect rhizosphere microbial activities, finding that microplastics exacerbated drought-induced suppression of soil enzyme activities and altered microbial community structure around plant roots.
Effect of different microplastics on the mobilization of soil inorganic phosphorus by exomycorrhizal fungi
Researchers examined how different microplastic types affect soil inorganic phosphorus mobilization, finding that polymer type and particle size influence phosphorus release from soil minerals, with implications for nutrient cycling in plastic-contaminated soils.
Increasing Temperature and Microplastic Fibers Jointly Influence Soil Aggregation by Saprobic Fungi
Researchers found that microplastic fibers and elevated temperature interactively influenced soil aggregation by saprobic fungi, with the effects varying by fungal strain, showing that these two environmental stressors can jointly alter soil structural quality.
Effects of biodegradable microplastics on soil microbial communities and activities: Insight from an ecological mesocosm experiment
Researchers studied how biodegradable microplastics made from starch-based materials affect soil microbial communities in a controlled ecosystem experiment over 11 weeks. They found that higher concentrations of these biodegradable particles actually increased the diversity of both bacteria and fungi in soil, while also boosting enzyme activity. The findings suggest that even so-called eco-friendly plastics can significantly alter soil microbial ecosystems, which could have broader consequences for soil health and nutrient cycling.