The Symbiotic Nature of Plant Microbiomes for Plastic Degradation
Board Location: #43
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: cell & molecular biology
Session: 3
Lauren Rogers - Louisiana State University
Co-Author(s): Naohiro Kato, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA Alexis Strain, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA Fan Zhang, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA Victoria Rodriguez, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA), are designed to reduce environmental impact but degrade slowly in natural soils, with only about 10% of PLA mass decomposing in a month under unconditioned soils. Bacteria like Bacillus spp., known for their bioplastic-degrading abilities, thrive in the rhizosphere, where root exudates promote their colonization.
We hypothesized that bioplastic degradation rates would increase in the rhizosphere due to enhanced microbial activity.
To test this, we examined the degradation of three bioplastics—PLA, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), and a PLA/PHA blend—over three months. Synthetic plastic acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) served as a control. Degradation was assessed by weight loss every 30 days, and microbial community dynamics in the rhizosphere were analyzed using next-generation sequencing.
This study highlights variations in degradation rates and microbial diversity across different plant species and plastic types, offering insights into leveraging plant-microbe interactions to enhance bioplastic breakdown in soil environments.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): Tiger Athletic Foundation
Faculty Advisor: Naohiro Kato, kato@lsu.edu
Role: primary researcher