Mycorrhizosphere bacteria inhibit greenhouse gas emissions from microplastics contaminated soil by regulating soil enzyme activities and microbial community structure
Microplastics (MPs) accumulation in terrestrial ecosystems can affect greenhouse gases (GHGs) production by altering
microbial and soil structure. Presently, research on the MPs effect on plants is not consistent, and underlying
molecular mechanisms associated with GHGs are yet unknown. For the first time, we conducted a microcosm
study to explore the impact of MPs addition (Raw vs. aged) and Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Bacillus subtilis
inoculation (Sole vs. combination) on GHGs emission, soil community structure, physiochemical properties, and
enzyme activities. Our results indicated that the addition of aged MPs considerably enhanced the GHGs emissions
(N2O (+16%) and CO2 (+21%), respectively), C and N cycling gene expression, microbial biomass carbon,
and soil physiochemical properties than raw MPs. However, the soil microbial community structure and enzyme
activities were enhanced in raw MPs added treatments, irrespective of the MPs type added to soil. However, microbial
inoculation significantly reduced GHGs emission by altering the expression of C and N cycling genes in
both types of MPs added treatments. The soil microbial community structure, enzymes activities, physiochemical
properties and microbial biomass carbon were enhanced in the presence of microbial inoculation in both type of
MPs. Among sole and combined inoculation of Trichoderma and Bacillus subtilis, the co-applied Trichoderma and
Bacillus subtilis considerably reduced the GHGs emission (N2O (−64%) and CO2 (−61%), respectively) by altering
the expression of C and N cycling genes regardless of MPs type used. The combined inoculation also enhanced
soil enzyme activities, microbial community structure, physiochemical properties and microbial biomass carbon
in both types of MPs treatment. Our findings provide evidence that polyethylene MPs likely pose a high risk of
GHGs emission while combined application of Trichoderma and Bacillus subtilis significantly reduced GHGs emission
by altering C and N cycling gene expression, soil microbial community structure, and enzyme activities under
MPs pollution in a terrestrial ecosystem.
Microplastics (MPs) accumulation in terrestrial ecosystems can affect greenhouse gases (GHGs) production by altering
microbial and soil structure. Presently, research on the MPs effect on…
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