Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
13:38
Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
Published on: May 10, 2013
31.3K
Long-term exposure to polyethylene restructures the multi-kingdom soil microbiota in maize fields
Zhen Shi1,2, Li Xiong1,2, Zhaojie Li1,2
1School of Breeding and Multiplication (Sanya Institute of Breeding and Multiplication), Hainan University, Sanya, China.
Communications Biology
|November 25, 2025
Summary
Polyethylene (PE) soil contamination impacts microbial communities long-term. Bacterial communities show resilience and enhanced biodegradation, but antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) increase in the plastisphere.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Soil contamination by polyethylene (PE) is a growing global issue.
- Long-term effects of PE on soil microbial communities are not well understood.
- Understanding impacts on bacteria, fungi, and protists is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the eight-year legacy effects of PE residues on soil microbiota assembly.
- To assess the influence of PE on the soil antibiotic resistome.
- To determine how PE affects different microbial kingdoms.
Main Methods:
- Conducted an eight-year field experiment.
- Analyzed microbial community assembly across bacteria, fungi, and protists.
- Quantified antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the plastisphere.
Main Results:
- Bacterial communities were more stable and resilient to PE than fungal and protistan communities.
- PE exposure led to deterministic bacterial assembly and enhanced biodegradation potential.
- Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were more prevalent in the PE plastisphere, with bacteria as primary hosts.
Conclusions:
- Multi-kingdom microbial responses are critical for understanding plastic pollution risks.
- PE contamination alters soil microbial assembly and promotes antibiotic resistance.
- Long-term PE presence reshapes soil ecosystems and their functions.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Microbe-Plant Interactions
Microbe-plant interactions represent a dynamic spectrum of associations shaped by intricate chemical signaling. These interactions can be neutral, beneficial, or detrimental, and profoundly influence plant physiology, growth, and ecosystem function. The plant microbiome, comprising bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses, plays a pivotal role in mediating these effects through surface colonization, internal colonization, or systemic symbiosis.Mutualistic associations, particularly with...
01:29Soil Microbial Ecology
Soil microbial ecology is defined by highly diverse, spatially structured communities that drive nutrient cycling, organic matter turnover, and overall ecosystem stability. Although a gram of soil can contain thousands of bacterial and archaeal taxa, the ecological processes they mediate are even more crucial for sustaining terrestrial life.Microhabitats and NichesSoil is a heterogeneous mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, and air. Microbes inhabit distinct microhabitats formed by...
01:28Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides
Pesticides often feature structurally complex chemical architectures, incorporating halogen groups and multiple aromatic rings. These characteristics confer high chemical stability, rendering many pesticides resistant to natural degradation processes. This resistance poses significant environmental concerns, as persistent pesticide residues can accumulate in ecosystems and affect non-target organisms.Despite the inherent stability of many pesticides, certain microorganisms possess the metabolic...