Combined application of compost and Bacillus sp. CIK-512 ameliorated the lead toxicity in radish by regulating the homeostasis of antioxidants and lead.

Lead (Pb) contamination is ubiquitous and usually causes toxicity to plants. Nevertheless, application of compost and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria synergistically may ameliorate the Pb toxicity in radish. The present study assessed the effects of compost and Bacillus sp. CIK-512 on growth, physiology, antioxidants and uptake of Pb in contaminated soil and explored the possible mechanism for Pb phytotoxicity amelioration. Treatments comprised of un-inoculated control, compost, CIK-512, and compost + CIK-512; plants were grown in soil contaminated with Pb (500mgkg-1) and without Pb in pot culture. Lead caused reduction in shoot dry biomass, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, relative water contents, whereas enhanced root dry biomass, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, malondialdehyde and electrolyte leakage in comparison with non-contaminated control. Plants inoculated with strain CIK-512 and compost produced significantly higher dry biomass, photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance in normal and contaminated soils. Bacterial strain CIK-512 and compost synergy improved growth and physiology of radish in contaminated soil possibly through homeostasis of antioxidant activities, reduced membrane leakage and Pb accumulation in shoot. Possibly, Pb-induced production of reactive oxygen species resulted in increased electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde contents (r = 0.88-0.92), which led to reduction in growth (r = -0.97) and physiology (r = -0.38 to -0.80), however, such negative effects were ameliorated by the regulation of antioxidants (r = 0.78-0.87). The decreased activity of antioxidants coupled with Pb accumulation in aerial part of the radish indicates the Pb-phytotoxicity amelioration through synergistic application of compost and Bacillus sp. CIK-512.

Ahmad I ，Akhtar MJ ，Mehmood S ，Akhter K ，Tahir M ，Saeed MF ，Hussain MB ，Hussain S ... -  《-》

Nickel phytoextraction through bacterial inoculation in Raphanus sativus.

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of two plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) viz. Bacillus sp. CIK-516 and Stenotrophomonas sp. CIK-517Y for improving the growth and Ni uptake of radish (Raphanus sativus) in the presence of four different levels of Ni contamination (0, 50, 100, 150 mg Ni kg-1 soil). Plant growth, dry biomass, chlorophyll and nitrogen contents were significantly reduced by the exogenous application of Ni, however, bacterial inoculation diluted the negative impacts of Ni stress on radish by improving these parameters. PGPR strain CIK-516 increased root length (9-27%), shoot length (8-27%), root dry biomass (2-32%), shoot dry biomass (9-51%), root girth (6-48%), total chlorophyll (4-38%) and shoot nitrogen contents (11-15%) in Ni contaminated and non-contaminated soils. Positive regulation of chlorophyll and nitrogen contents by the inoculated plants shows plant tolerance mechanism of Ni stress. Bacterial strain (CIK-516) exhibited indole acetic acid and 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase potentials which would have helped radish plant to stabilize in Ni contaminated soil and thereby increased Ni uptake (24-257 in shoot and 58-609 in root mg kg-1 dry biomass) and facilitated accumulation in radish (bioaccumulation factor = 0.6-1.7) depending upon soil Ni contamination. Based on the findings of this study, it might be suggested that inoculation with bacterial strain CIK-516 could be an efficient tool for enhanced Ni phytoextraction in radish.

Akhtar MJ ，Ullah S ，Ahmad I ，Rauf A ，Nadeem SM ，Khan MY ，Hussain S ，Bulgariu L ... -  《-》

Synergistic application of Pseudomonas strains and compost mitigates lead (Pb) stress in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) via improved nutrient uptake, antioxidant defense and physiology.

Lead (Pb) is one of the most dreadful non-essential elements whose toxicity has been well reported worldwide due to its interference with the major plant functions and its overall yield. Bioremediation techniques comprising the application of beneficial microorganisms have gained attention in recent times owing to their ecofriendly nature. Addition of organic matter to soil has been reported to stimulate microbial activities. Compost application improves soil structure and binds toxic contaminants due to its larger surface area and presence of functional groups. Furthermore, it stimulates soil microbial activities by acting as C-source. So, in current study, we investigated the individual and synergistic potential of two lead (Pb)-tolerant Pseudomonas strains alongwith compost (1% w/w) in sustaining sunflower growth under Pb contaminated soil conditions. Lead chloride (PbCl2) salt was used for raising desired Pb concentration (500 mg kg-1). Results revealed that Pb stress drastically affected all the measured attributes of sunflower plant, however joint application of rhizobacteria and compost counteracted these adverse effects. Among them, co-application of str-1 and compost proved to be significantly better than str-2, as its inoculation significantly improved shoot and root lengths (64 and 76%), leaf area and leaves plant-1 (95 and 166%), 100-achene weight (200%), no. of flowers plant-1 (138%), chl 'a', 'b' and carotenoid (86, 159 and 33%) contents in sunflower as compared to control treatments. Furthermore, inoculation of Pseudomonas fluorescens along with compost increased the NPK in achene (139, 200 and 165%), flavonoid and phenolic contents (258 and 185%) along with transpiration and photosynthetic rates (54 and 72%) in leaves as compared to control treatment under Pb contamination. In addition, Pb entry to roots, shoots and achene were significantly suppressed under by 87, 90 and 91% respectively due to integrated application of compost and str-1 as evident by maximum Pb-immobilization efficiency (97%) obtained in this treatment. Similarly, bioconcentration factors for roots, shoots and achene were found to be 0.58, 0.18 and 0.0055 with associated translocation factor (0.30), which also revealed phytostabilization of Pb under combined application of PGPR and compost. Since, phytoremediation of heavy metals under current scenario of increasing global population is inevitable, results of the current study concluded that tolerant PGPR species along with organic amendments such as compost can inhibit Pb uptake by sunflower and confer Pb tolerance via improved nutrient uptake, physiology, antioxidative defense and gas exchange.

Ayub A ，Shabaan M ，Malik M ，Asghar HN ，Zulfiqar U ，Ejaz M ，Alarjani KM ，Al Farraj DA ... -  《-》

Metal-immobilizing Serratia liquefaciens CL-1 and Bacillus thuringiensis X30 increase biomass and reduce heavy metal accumulation of radish under field conditions.

In this study, metal-tolerant bacteria Serratia liquefaciens CL-1 and Bacillus thuringiensis X30 were compared for their Cd and Pb immobilization in solution and impacts on biomass and Cd and Pb uptake in a radish in metal-contaminated soils under field conditions. Strains CL-1 and X30 significantly reduced water-soluble Cd and Pb concentrations (45-67%) and increased the pH in solution compared to the controls. These strains significantly increased the biomass (25-99%) and decreased edible tissue Cd and Pb uptake in the radish (37-81%) and DTPA-extractable Cd and Pb contents (18-44%) of the rhizosphere soil compared to the un-inoculated controls. Strain CL-1 had higher potential to reduce edible tissue Cd and Pb uptake in the radish and DTPA-extractable Cd content than strain X30. Also, these strains significantly increased Cd translocation factor and strain CL-1 also significantly increased Pb translocation factor of the radish. Furthermore, strain CL-1 significantly increased the ratio of small soil aggregates (< 0.25 mm and 0.25-0.50 mm) of the rhizosphere soil. The results showed that these strains reduced the edible tissue Cd and Pb uptake through decreasing Cd and Pb availability in the soil and increasing Cd or Pb translocation from the roots to the leaves of the radish. The results also suggested the bacteria-related differences in reduced heavy metal uptake in the radish and the mechanisms involved under field conditions.

Han H ，Sheng X ，Hu J ，He L ，Wang Q ... -  《-》

Regulation of antioxidant production, ion uptake and productivity in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plant inoculated with growth promoting salt tolerant Bacillus strains.

The exchangeable sodium (Na+) in salt affected soils is a major constraint in potassium (K+) availability to plants that disturb ion transport and inhibit plant growth, adversely. Salt tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) may regulate the Na+/K+ efflux and increase K+ uptake by the plant from the soil. Therefore, a pot study was performed to examine the effect of salt tolerant PGPR Bacillus sp. alone and in consortium, on antioxidant enzyme activity, ion uptake and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber yield in normal and salt affected soils. We observed that Bacillus sp. (strains SR-2-1 and SR-2-1/1) solubilized insoluble phosphorous and produced indole-3-acetic acid while only SR-2-1/1 produced ACC deaminase in culture medium supplemented with various concentrations of NaCl (0-6%). In the pot experiment, the consortium treatment of strains was found to increase relative leaf water contents whereas decreased the electrolyte leakage and antioxidant enzyme activity both in normal and salt affected soils. Similarly, consortium treatment decreased Na+ whereas increased K+, Ca+2, K+/Na+ and Ca+2/Na+ in plant dry matter in both soils. It has been investigated that inoculation of PGPR significantly (p < 0.05) increased plant biomass, number of tubers per plant and tuber weight as compared to un-inoculated plants in both soils. In addition, PGPR inoculation enhanced auxin production in root exudates of young potato plants and bacterial population dynamics in both soils. Na+ ion regulation (R2 = 0.95) and tuber weight (R2 = 0.90) in salt affected soil were significantly correlated with auxin production in the rhizosphere. Results of this study conferred that consortium of Bacillus strains (SR-2-1, SR-2-1/1) enhanced auxin production in the rhizosphere of potato plants and that ultimately regulated antioxidant enzyme production and uptake of Na+, K+ and Ca+2 in potato plants resulted into a higher tuber yield in both normal and salt affected soils.

Tahir M ，Ahmad I ，Shahid M ，Shah GM ，Farooq ABU ，Akram M ，Tabassum SA ，Naeem MA ，Khalid U ，Ahmad S ，Zakir A ... -  《-》