Agri-plastics in soils drive changes in the rhizosphere bacterial community and plant transcriptome in Arabidopsis

2025 · doi:10.22541/au.174124468.80446531/v1
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This (preprint) study examined how plastic residues from agricultural low-density polyethylene mulching films, added to agricultural field soils at 5% (w/w) and incubated for 120 days, affect the rhizosphere bacterial community and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) transcriptome. Using laboratory soil incubations at 25°C and 80% relative humidity, the authors found that the presence of plastics and soil incubation did not change seedling growth or flowering time, but it did significantly alter bacterial taxon composition, including shifts in population sizes of families such as Alcanivoracaceae, Cytophagaceae, and Latescibacteraceae, while within-community evenness, richness, and diversity remained unchanged. They also reported that plastic and rhizomicrobiome variation were associated with transcriptional changes in plant genes involved in photosynthesis, nitrogen assimilation, and oxidative stress responses, with the caveat that the work is preliminary and not peer reviewed. This paper does not explicitly discuss endometriosis or adenomyosis; it was included in the corpus via a keyword match in the upstream search index.

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Abstract

Farmers use low-density polyethylene plastic mulching films to suppress weeds and protect plants from biotic and abiotic stresses; however, these films are a source of microplastics in ecosystems. Understanding the effect of film-derived microplastics on the rhizosphere microbiome and plant growth and development is therefore crucial. Here, we investigated how plastic residues in soils affect the interaction between the rhizosphere microbiome and Arabidopsis ( Arabidopsis thaliana ). To this end, we prepared plastic residues (≥5 mm), mixed them with agricultural field soils (5%, w/w), and incubated the mixed soils at 25°C and 80% relative humidity in the dark for 120 days to allow stabilization of the microbial community at the laboratory scale. The two independent variables (the presence of plastics and soil incubation) and their interaction did not affect seedling growth or flowering time. Bacterial taxon compositions in the rhizosphere were significantly changed by plastic treatment, soil incubation, and their interaction, although the evenness, richness, and diversity within each bacterial community remained unchanged. Notably, population sizes of bacterial families, such as Alcanivoracaceae, Cytophagaceae, and Latescibacteraceae, in the rhizosphere were altered by the presence of plastic. Additionally, the two independent variables and variation in the rhizomicrobiome induced changes in the transcription patterns of genes involved in photosynthesis, nitrogen assimilation, and the response to oxidative stress, suggesting that plastic residues influence microbial and plant activity. These findings suggest that plastic residues in soil indirectly affect the bacterial community and plant physiology; thus, their interaction should be considered in efforts to maintain sustainable agroecosystems.
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Abstract

Farmers use low-density polyethylene plastic mulching films to suppress weeds and protect plants from biotic and abiotic stresses; however, these films are a source of microplastics in ecosystems. Understanding the effect of film-derived microplastics on the rhizosphere microbiome and plant growth and development is therefore crucial. Here, we investigated how plastic residues in soils affect the interaction between the rhizosphere microbiome and Arabidopsis ( Arabidopsis thaliana ). To this end, we prepared plastic residues (≥5 mm), mixed them with agricultural field soils (5%, w/w), and incubated the mixed soils at 25°C and 80% relative humidity in the dark for 120 days to allow stabilization of the microbial community at the laboratory scale. The two independent variables (the presence of plastics and soil incubation) and their interaction did not affect seedling growth or flowering time. Bacterial taxon compositions in the rhizosphere were significantly changed by plastic treatment, soil incubation, and their interaction, although the evenness, richness, and diversity within each bacterial community remained unchanged. Notably, population sizes of bacterial families, such as Alcanivoracaceae, Cytophagaceae, and Latescibacteraceae, in the rhizosphere were altered by the presence of plastic. Additionally, the two independent variables and variation in the rhizomicrobiome induced changes in the transcription patterns of genes involved in photosynthesis, nitrogen assimilation, and the response to oxidative stress, suggesting that plastic residues influence microbial and plant activity. These findings suggest that plastic residues in soil indirectly affect the bacterial community and plant physiology; thus, their interaction should be considered in efforts to maintain sustainable agroecosystems. Information & Authors Information Version history Peer review timeline Published Journal of Experimental Botany Version of Record26 Jul 2025Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License.

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Authors Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 200views 132downloads Citations Download citation Dohui Lee, Eunji Lee, Yeon Su Lee, et al. Agri-plastics in soils drive changes in the rhizosphere bacterial community and plant transcriptome in Arabidopsis. Authorea. 06 March 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174124468.80446531/v1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174124468.80446531/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

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