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Quantification of the Potential Impact of Glyphosate-Based Products on Microbiomes
Published on: January 10, 2022
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How do glyphosate and AMPA alter the microbial community structure and phosphorus cycle in rice-crayfish systems?
Mengjie Qu1, Xuan Cheng1, Qiang Xu2
1School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, China.
Environmental Research
|July 26, 2024
Summary
Glyphosate residues are ubiquitous in rice-crayfish systems, impacting microbial communities and potentially altering the phosphorus cycle. This study reveals glyphosate may increase stable phosphorus production by boosting specific microbial genes.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Ecotoxicology
- Microbial Ecology
Background:
- Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide in agriculture, particularly in rice-crayfish farming systems.
- Concerns exist regarding glyphosate's potential to disrupt phosphorus cycling and microbial community structures.
- The specific impacts of glyphosate residues in integrated rice-crayfish systems remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of glyphosate and its metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA).
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which glyphosate affects microbial communities and the phosphorus cycle in rice-crayfish ecosystems.
- To provide a scientific basis for the ecological risk assessment of glyphosate in these systems.
Main Methods:
- Field sampling across paddy fields, breeding ditches, and recharge rivers within rice-crayfish systems.
- Quantification of glyphosate and AMPA concentrations in water and soil/sediment samples.
- Analysis of microbial community structure (gene abundance) and phosphorus fractions.
- Statistical correlation analysis to link glyphosate/AMPA concentrations with microbial and phosphorus parameters.
Main Results:
- Glyphosate and AMPA were detected at 100% rates across all sampled rice-crayfish environments.
- Significant positive correlations were observed between glyphosate/AMPA concentrations and specific microbial groups (e.g., RBG-16-58-14, Actinobacteria, Lysobacter).
- Glyphosate concentration positively correlated with the abundance of organophosphorus-degrading (phoD) and inorganic phosphate-releasing (ppx) genes, and with Ca-bonded phosphorus, suggesting enhanced stable phosphorus production.
Conclusions:
- Glyphosate residues are persistent and widespread in rice-crayfish systems.
- Glyphosate influences microbial community composition and function related to phosphorus metabolism.
- The herbicide may indirectly promote the production of stable inorganic phosphorus by modulating microbial gene expression.
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