Potential Effects of Microplastic on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitously found in terrestrial ecosystems and are increasingly recognized as a factor of global change (GCF). Current research shows that MP can alter plant growth, soil inherent properties, and the composition and activity of microbial communities. However, knowledge abou...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.626709/full |
| _version_ | 1818449967698673664 |
|---|---|
| author | Eva F. Leifheit Eva F. Leifheit Anika Lehmann Anika Lehmann Matthias C. Rillig Matthias C. Rillig |
| author_facet | Eva F. Leifheit Eva F. Leifheit Anika Lehmann Anika Lehmann Matthias C. Rillig Matthias C. Rillig |
| author_sort | Eva F. Leifheit |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitously found in terrestrial ecosystems and are increasingly recognized as a factor of global change (GCF). Current research shows that MP can alter plant growth, soil inherent properties, and the composition and activity of microbial communities. However, knowledge about how microplastic affects arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is scarce. For plants it has been shown that microplastic can both increase and decrease the aboveground biomass and reduce the root diameter, which could indirectly cause a change in AMF abundance and activity. One of the main direct effects of microplastic is the reduction of the soil bulk density, which translates to an altered soil pore structure and water transport. Moreover, especially fibers can have considerable impacts on soil structure, namely the size distribution and stability of soil aggregates. Therefore, microplastic alters a number of soil parameters that determine habitat space and conditions for AMF. We expect that this will influence functions mediated by AMF, such as soil aggregation, water and nutrient transport. We discuss how the impacts of microplastic on AMF could alter how plants deal with other GCFs in the context of sustainable food production. The co-occurrence of several GCFs, e.g., elevated temperature, drought, pesticides, and microplastic could modify the impact of microplastic on AMF. Furthermore, the ubiquitous presence of microplastic also relates to earth system processes, e.g., net primary production (NPP), carbon and nitrogen cycling, which involve AMF as key soil organisms. For future research, we outline which experiments should be prioritized. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T20:43:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d0e13b8353c84f039fbdc481879f549c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T20:43:49Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-d0e13b8353c84f039fbdc481879f549c2022-12-21T22:48:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2021-02-011210.3389/fpls.2021.626709626709Potential Effects of Microplastic on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal FungiEva F. Leifheit0Eva F. Leifheit1Anika Lehmann2Anika Lehmann3Matthias C. Rillig4Matthias C. Rillig5Institut für Biologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, GermanyBerlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research, Berlin, GermanyInstitut für Biologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, GermanyBerlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research, Berlin, GermanyInstitut für Biologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, GermanyBerlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research, Berlin, GermanyMicroplastics (MPs) are ubiquitously found in terrestrial ecosystems and are increasingly recognized as a factor of global change (GCF). Current research shows that MP can alter plant growth, soil inherent properties, and the composition and activity of microbial communities. However, knowledge about how microplastic affects arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is scarce. For plants it has been shown that microplastic can both increase and decrease the aboveground biomass and reduce the root diameter, which could indirectly cause a change in AMF abundance and activity. One of the main direct effects of microplastic is the reduction of the soil bulk density, which translates to an altered soil pore structure and water transport. Moreover, especially fibers can have considerable impacts on soil structure, namely the size distribution and stability of soil aggregates. Therefore, microplastic alters a number of soil parameters that determine habitat space and conditions for AMF. We expect that this will influence functions mediated by AMF, such as soil aggregation, water and nutrient transport. We discuss how the impacts of microplastic on AMF could alter how plants deal with other GCFs in the context of sustainable food production. The co-occurrence of several GCFs, e.g., elevated temperature, drought, pesticides, and microplastic could modify the impact of microplastic on AMF. Furthermore, the ubiquitous presence of microplastic also relates to earth system processes, e.g., net primary production (NPP), carbon and nitrogen cycling, which involve AMF as key soil organisms. For future research, we outline which experiments should be prioritized.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.626709/fullmicroplasticglobal changeearth system processespollutionarbuscular mycorrhizal fungi |
| spellingShingle | Eva F. Leifheit Eva F. Leifheit Anika Lehmann Anika Lehmann Matthias C. Rillig Matthias C. Rillig Potential Effects of Microplastic on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Frontiers in Plant Science microplastic global change earth system processes pollution arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi |
| title | Potential Effects of Microplastic on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi |
| title_full | Potential Effects of Microplastic on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi |
| title_fullStr | Potential Effects of Microplastic on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential Effects of Microplastic on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi |
| title_short | Potential Effects of Microplastic on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi |
| title_sort | potential effects of microplastic on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi |
| topic | microplastic global change earth system processes pollution arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.626709/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT evafleifheit potentialeffectsofmicroplasticonarbuscularmycorrhizalfungi AT evafleifheit potentialeffectsofmicroplasticonarbuscularmycorrhizalfungi AT anikalehmann potentialeffectsofmicroplasticonarbuscularmycorrhizalfungi AT anikalehmann potentialeffectsofmicroplasticonarbuscularmycorrhizalfungi AT matthiascrillig potentialeffectsofmicroplasticonarbuscularmycorrhizalfungi AT matthiascrillig potentialeffectsofmicroplasticonarbuscularmycorrhizalfungi |