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Majority of terrestrial soils are used primarily for agricultural production. The main factor of soil fertility is mediated by soil microorganisms and invertebrates. Soil microorganisms plays crutial role in ecosystems nutrient cycling and therefore any change in their diversity could have serious consequences on soil fertility and agricultural yields. Silver nanoparticles as novel potentialy nontoxic compounds are nowadays used in many daily use products and also as pesticides. But based on their antimicrobial activity, they can adversely influence structure of soil microbiome. Our work is focused on qPCR analysis of soil microbiome diversity with and without silver nanoparticles treatment. Phylogenetic analysis revealed concentration dependent shifts in microbial diversity, usually in the favor of one phylogenetic group of bacteria or fungi and analysis of melting curves showed changes inside individual phylogenetic groups.

In the few past decades, genetic approaches for analysis of soil microbiome, e.g pyrosequencing, gained major attention and cultivation techniques were pushed into the background. The combination of several techniques could be useful and cheap approach for analysis of changes in soil microbiome. In our study of effect of silver nanoparticles on soil microbiome we exploited classical microbiological and biochemical methods for assessment of microbial structure. Effect caused by addition of silver nanoparticles was concentration dependent, the highest concentration of silver nanoparticles caused, besides the others, significant decrease in dehydrogenase activity of soil microorganisms. Concentration dependent changes in soil microbiome were also detected, e.g. in total numbers of cultivable microorganisms, cellulolytic or peroxidase. CLPP indicated significant shift in microbial diversity in all levels of substrate utilization.

Within the past decades, nanoparticles (NPs) have become common components of electronics, batteries, cosmetics, clothing, and even dietary supplements. Despite their undisputed advantages consisting in the possibility of engineering their novel physical, thermal, optical, and biological properties, safety questions arise concerning their wide exploitation. NPs interact with living organisms, which can interfere with essential life processes. The aim of this paper is to critically review the current literature dealing with noble metals' NPs (NM-NPs) and their effects on plants and associated microorganisms. Particular attention has been given to the less studied NPs of platinum group elements, which can be considered a neglected pollutant, since they are released from vehicles' catalysts. In addition, we have provided a comprehensive overview of the biotechnology exploitation of NM-NPs in plant cultivation, where prospective nanomaterials developed as nanofertilizers and nanopesticides are introduced, and both the pros and the cons of nanomaterial plant treatments have been discussed.