Effects of silver sulfide nanomaterials on mycorrhizal colonization of tomato plants and soil microbial communities in biosolid-amended soil

Abstract

We investigated effects of Ag2S engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated Ag ENMs (PVP-Ag), and Ag(+) on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), their colonization of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and overall microbial community structure in biosolids-amended soil. Concentration-dependent uptake was measured in all treatments. Plants exposed to 100 mg kg(-1) PVP-Ag ENMs and 100 mg kg(-1) Ag(+) exhibited reduced biomass and greatly reduced mycorrhizal colonization. Bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi were inhibited by all treatment classes, with the largest reductions measured in 100 mg kg(-1) PVP-Ag ENMs and 100 mg kg(-1) Ag(+). Overall, Ag2S ENMs were less toxic to plants, less disruptive to plant-mycorrhizal symbiosis, and less inhibitory to the soil microbial community than PVP-Ag ENMs or Ag(+). However, significant effects were observed at 1 mg kg(-1) Ag2S ENMs, suggesting that the potential exists for microbial communities and the ecosystem services they provide to be disrupted by environmentally relevant concentrations of Ag2S ENMs.

Nanomaterials in the environment: Behavior, fate, bioavailability, and effects—An updated review

“…Considering that non‐labile transformation end products such as AgCl and Ag 2 S are expected to be stable in the environment and to have relatively low bioavailability (Lombi et al ; Donner et al ; Doolette et al , ), the risk to terrestrial ecosystems posed by Ag NMs would appear to be low, although uncertainties related to longer‐term transformations, dosimetry, are also relevant. This conclusion has been further supported by soil‐based studies demonstrating that Ag 2 S NMs presented minimal hazard to plant–microorganism symbioses (Judy et al , ), crop plants (Doolette et al ; Wang et al ), soil microorganisms (Judy et al ; Doolette et al ; Moore et al ), and soil invertebrates (Starnes et al , ).…”

Long‐term effects of sulfidized silver nanoparticles in sewage sludge on soil microflora

“…Different studies have demonstrated a significant amount of amorphous structures or lability of sulfidized particles [7]. This was especially the case when the sulfidation took place under environmentally relevant conditions during wastewater or sludge treatment [28,30]; an impact on soil microorganisms, fungi [36], and root development [28] was also demonstrated. The changing morphology of sulfidized AgNPs observed under electron microscopy is in line with an amorphous structure of the sulfidized AgNPs.…”

The Effect of Silver and Copper Nanoparticles on the Condition of English Oak (Quercus robur L.) Seedlings in a Container Nursery Experiment

“…The investigation of effects of silver sulphide nanomaterials on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and overall microbial community structure in biosolids-amended soil showed that bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi were inhibited by NP treatments. For example, it was shown that silver sulfide nanomaterials were toxic to mycorrhizal symbiosis, resulting in reduced plant biomass and greatly reduced mycorrhizal colonization [40]. Sweet and Singleton [13] showed that soil contamination with AgNPs reduced root and shoot growth of treated Bishop pine (Pinus muricata) and ectomycorrhizal diversity on pine roots.…”

“…Manceau et al [38] showed that the common wetlands plants Phragmites australis and Iris pseudoacorus can transform copper into metallic nanoparticles with evidence of assistance by endomycorrhizal fungi, thus limiting Cu toxicity. Some studies have highlighted the negative effect of nanoparticles on mycorrhizal colonization [39,40]. The investigation of effects of silver sulphide nanomaterials on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) colonization of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and overall microbial community structure in biosolids-amended soil showed that bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi were inhibited by NP treatments.…”