Antibiotic resistance genes in manure-amended soil and vegetables at harvest

• High residual of antibiotics and ARGs existed in manure-amended soil, which could persist in soil for a long time.
• Planting had an effect on the distribution of ARGs in manure-amended soil.
• ARGs were also detected on harvested vegetables grown in manure-amended soil, including root endophytes, leaf endophytes, and phyllosphere microorganisms.

Lettuce and endive, which can be eaten raw, were planted on the manure-amended soil in order to explore the influence of plants on the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in bulk soil and rhizosphere soil, and the occurrence of ARGs on harvested vegetables. Twelve ARGs and one integrase gene (intI1) were detected in all soil samples. Five ARGs (sulI, tetG, tetC, tetA, and tetM) showed lower abundance in the soil with plants than those without. ARGs and intI1 gene were also detected on harvested vegetables grown in manure-amended soil, including endophytes and phyllosphere microorganisms. The results demonstrated that planting had an effect on the distribution of ARGs in manure-amended soil, and ARGs were detected on harvested vegetables after growing in manure-amended soil, which had potential threat to human health.

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