Nanoplastic alters soybean microbiome across rhizocompartments level and symbiosis via flavonoid-mediated pathways.

ABSTRACT: Plastic pollution, particularly its breakdown into nanoplastics (NPs), poses a significant threat to ecosystem services, with notable effects on soil-plant-microbe interactions in agricultural systems. However, there is limited understanding of how NPs influence the soil microbiome and plant symbiotic functions. In this study, we applied polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) NPs, measuring 20 to 50 nm, to soybean growing conditions. We evaluated soil physicochemical properties, nodule counts, nitrogenase activity, and bacterial community composition in nodule, rhizosphere, and bulk soil under different concentrations of these NPs (200, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of soil w/w). Our results revealed that the impact of NPs on soil physicochemical properties was type-dependent, with PE-NPs exerting

SUBMITTER: Shoaib M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12528142 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature