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Microplastic-pathogen interactions differentially modulate tomato Fusarium wilt severity: The dependence of polymer
Siqi Shen1, Yawei Zhou2, Ru Zhao1
1State Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Control, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi 712100, China.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|February 26, 2026
Summary
Polyethylene microplastics worsen tomato wilt disease, while polylactic acid microplastics reduce it by altering pathogen interactions and soil microbes. This highlights plastic type-specific impacts on soil-borne diseases.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Microplastics (MPs) contaminate agricultural soils, impacting plant health and rhizosphere ecology.
- The specific effects of MPs on soil-borne pathogens and crop diseases are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics influence Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) colonization, virulence, and the rhizosphere microbiome in tomato plants.
Main Methods:
- Hydroponic, soil-based, and in vitro co-culture assays were used to assess disease severity and pathogen interactions.
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, antifungal assays, and transcriptomic profiling were employed to analyze MP effects.
- Rhizosphere microbiome analysis was conducted to understand community shifts.
Main Results:
- Polyethylene (PE) microplastics increased tomato wilt severity by 19%, while polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics reduced it by 14%.
- PE facilitated FOL colonization, whereas PLA leachates suppressed fungal growth and virulence by downregulating key virulence genes.
- PLA promoted an antagonistic rhizosphere microbiome, reducing overall Fusarium abundance.
Conclusions:
- The type of microplastic significantly alters soil-borne pathogen interactions and disease outcomes in agriculture.
- Biodegradable PLA shows potential for mitigating soil-borne diseases, unlike conventional PE.
- Findings provide a basis for understanding microplastic co-exposure risks and promoting sustainable plastic use in agriculture.
