Microplastics influence on herbicides removal and biosurfactants production by a Bacillus sp. strain active against Fusarium culmorum

The amounts of anthropogenic pollutants, e.g., microplastics (MPs) and pesticides, in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems have been increasing. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of MPs on the removal of herbicides (metolachlor, MET; 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-D) and the production of biosurfactants (surfactin and iturin) by Bacillus sp. Kol L6 active against Fusarium culmorum. The results showed that Kol L6 eliminated 40–55% MET and 2,4-D from liquid cultures, but this process was inhibited in the presence of MPs. Although the pollutants did not strongly limit the production of surfactin, iturin secretion was found to decrease by more than 70% in the presence of all three pollutants. Interestingly, the strongest modification in the profile of iturin homologues was calculated for the cultures containing MET + MP and 2,4-D + MET + MP. The bacteria significantly limited the growth of the phytopathogenic F. culmorum DSM1094F in the presence of individual pollutants and their two-component mixtures. However, in the presence of all three tested pollutants, the growth of the fungus was limited only partially (by no more than 40%). The presented results are a starting point for further research on bacteria-fungi-plants interactions in the soil environment in the presence of multiple pollutants.