Cadmium-tolerant bacteria reduce the uptake of cadmium in rice: potential for microbial bioremediation

Zinc- and cadmium-tolerant endophytic bacteria from Murdannia spectabilis (Kurz) Faden. studied for plant growth-promoting properties, in vitro inoculation, and antagonism

This research aims to isolate and identify Zn- and Cd-tolerant endophytic bacteria from Murdannia spectabilis, identify their properties with and without Zn and Cd stress, and to investigate the effect of bacterial inoculation in an in vitro system. Twenty-four isolates could survive on trypticase soya agar (TSA) supplemented with Zn (250-500 mg L^-1) and/or Cd (20-50 mg L^-1) that belonged to the genera Bacillus, Pantoea, Microbacterium, Curtobacterium, Chryseobacterium, Cupriavidus, Siphonobacter, and Pseudomonas. Each strain had different indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase and siderophore production, nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and lignocellulosic enzyme characteristics. Cupriavidus plantarum MDR5 and Chryseobacterium sp. MDR7 were selected for inoculation into plantlets that were already occupied by Curtobacterium sp. TMIL due to them have a high tolerance for Zn and Cd while showing no pathogenicity. As determined via an in vitro system, Cupriavidus plantarum MDR5 remained in the plants to a greater extent than Chryseobacterium sp. MDR7, while Curtobacterium sp. TMIL was the dominant species. The Zn plus Cd treatment supported the persistence of Cupriavidus plantarum MDR5. Dual and mixed cultivation showed no antagonistic effects between the endophytes. Although the plant growth and Zn/Cd accumulation were not significantly affected by the Zn-/Cd-tolerant endophytes, the inoculation did not weaken the plants. Therefore, Cupriavidus plantarum MDR5 could be applied in a bioaugmentation process.

Microplastics in bloom-forming macroalgae: Distribution, characteristics and impacts

Macroalgal blooms and marine microplastics (MPs), as global challenges for oceans, are both showing a rising trend. However, none is known regarding the interaction of these two important issues. The Yellow Sea suffers the world's largest green tides and severe MPs pollution as well. Therefore, we tracked the trapping of MPs by drifting Ulva prolifera in the Yellow Sea during the green-tide period. The abundance of MPs in drifting U. prolifera was 595-3917 times higher than that in seawater and increased along the drifting path from south to north in the Yellow Sea. In addition, four mechanisms of trapping plastics (twining, attachment, embedment, and wrapping) on or in U. prolifera were unmasked, which explains why the plant has such strong capacity to trap MPs. Laboratory incubation experiments showed that MPs (0.025-25 mg L^-1) did not affect relative growth rate, effective photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII), or saturating irradiance of U. prolifera until reaching an extremely high concentration (100 mg L^-1), indicating a high tolerance to MPs. Due to tremendous biomass and coverage of the green tide and increased frequency as well, the plastics trap in drifting macroalgae can alter the spatio-temporal distribution of MPs in the oceans.

Biochemical and genetic basis of cadmium biosorption by Enterobacter ludwigii LY6, isolated from industrial contaminated soil

In this study, a cadmium-tolerant bacterium, Enterobacter ludwigii LY6, was isolated from cadmium-contaminated soil in Shifang, Sichuan province, China. The cadmium chloride removal rate of the strain LY6 with a treatment of 100 mg/L cadmium chloride reached 56.0%. Scanning electron microscopy showed that exopolysaccharides (EPS) might be the main means of cadmium adsorption by the strain. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses indicated that cadmium sulfide nanoparticles formed on the surface of bacteria cultured in a medium containing 100 mg/L cadmium chloride. In addition, the expression of several genes increased with the increase of the cadmium concentration in the medium, including the multiple antibiotic resistance proteins marA and marR, and the cold shock protein CspA. GO functions, such as the redox activity, respiratory chain and transport functions, and KEGG pathways involved in "bacterial chemotaxis" and "terpenoid backbone biosynthesis" were found to be closely related to bacterial cadmium tolerance and biosorption. This is the first report that E. ludwigii can reduce sulfate to form cadmium sulfide nanoparticles under high concentration cadmium exposure. The genes related to cadmium tolerance identified in this study lay a foundation for the genetic breeding of cadmium-tolerant strains.

Burkholderia sp. Y4 inhibits cadmium accumulation in rice by increasing essential nutrient uptake and preferentially absorbing cadmium

Microbial remediation of heavy metal-polluted soil is a commonly used method. Burkholderia sp. Y4, isolated from cadmium (Cd)-contaminated rice rhizosphere soil, was investigated for its direct and indirect effects on Cd accumulation in rice by SEM-EDS, FITR and sequencing analysis of the soil bacterial community. Burkholderia sp. Y4 inoculation reduced Cd accumulation in rice roots, rachises, and grains of the two rice varieties T705 and X24 and increased levels of essential elements, especially Fe and Mn, which competitively inhibited Cd transport through cationic channels. Living Burkholderia sp. Y4 cells, rather than non-living ones, could colonize the surface of rice roots and accumulated more Cd through direct biosorption associated with -CO and -NH/-CO bonds of amino acids and proteins. The results of soil microbial community showed that the colonization of externally added Burkholderia sp. Y4 could be maintained over some time to impact the total rhizospheric environment. Burkholderia sp. Y4 inoculation decreased the abundance of microbes involved in the iron cycle (Acidobacteria) as well as of those mediating the transformation of ammonium nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen (Nitrosomonadaceae and Nitrospira). So Burkholderia sp. Y4 inoculation may indirectly change the availability of micronutrients and Cd in rice rhizosphere soil through iron-nitrogen coupled cycles to increase essential nutrient uptake and inhibit Cd accumulation in rice by preferential Cd-biosorption. Therefore, Burkholderia sp. Y4 is potentially suitable for the bioremediation of Cd-contaminated paddy soil.

Effects of Cd-resistant bacteria and calcium carbonate + sepiolite on Cd availability in contaminated paddy soil and on Cd accumulation in brown rice grains

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of combined application of cadmium (Cd)-resistant bacteria (J) and calcium carbonate + sepiolite (G) on both Cd bioavailability in contaminated paddy soil and on Cd accumulation in rice plants. Adding the mixture (J + G) to the soils significantly increased soil pH, decreased extractable Cd contents, and increased Fe/Mn-oxide Cd and organic-bound Cd contents. The applying of J + G, J and G decreased Cd contents in various rice tissues (roots, stems and leaves, husks, and brown rice grains) to different degrees. Compared with those of the CK, Cd contents decreased by 17.8%-53.3% in the roots, 12.3%-27.4% in the stems and leaves, 25.4%-44.6% in the husks, and 28.8%-55.7% in the brown rice grains for the application of J + G; Cd contents decreased by 8.2%-28.5% in the roots, 11.5%-32.0% in the husks, and 27.8%-45.9% in the brown rice grains for the application of J; Cd contents decreased by 12.9%-26.5% in the roots, in the stems and leaves decreased by 4.6%-34.1% in the stems and leaves, 60.2%-79.7% in the husks, and 35.7%-47.6% in the brown rice grains for the application of G. The alone application of bacteria (J) could reduce the bioavailability of Cd in soil and the contents of Cd in brown rice grains to some extent. Moreover, when the bacteria were applied in combination with mineral (J + G), it was a more effective method than the alone application of J or G to reduce the soil Cd bioavailability. Under all the tested conditions, applications of J4+G4 (320 mL kg^-1 of J + 8 g kg^-1 of G) resulted in the greatest reduction in Cd contents in brown rice grains. Overall, the results indicated that the combination of Cd-resistant bacteria and mineral material could effectively reduce Cd bioavailability in paddy soils and inhibit Cd accumulation in brown rice grains.

Characterization of a high cadmium accumulating soil bacterium, Cupriavidus sp. WS2

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most harmful heavy-metals, its accumulation in crops can lead to severe ecological and healthy problems. Bioremediation using microbes to remove Cd or reduce the bioavailability of Cd is considered as a promising approach for Cd pollution control. Here, we described the isolation and characterization of a high Cd-accumulating bacterial strain, Cupriavidus sp. WS2, from the heavy-metals contained soil at the Wuhan Iron and Steel Company area. WS2 can survive under the high Cd conditions and immobilize Cd by biosynthesizing intracellular Cd-containing nanoparticle inclusions. In the co-inoculation test WS2 also significantly decreased the accumulation of Cd in rice seedlings. All our results suggested that Cupriavidus sp. WS2 may harbor a great potential for the bioremediation applications of Cd pollution.

Inoculation of Cd-contaminated paddy soil with biochar-supported microbial cell composite: A novel approach to reducing cadmium accumulation in rice grains

Bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil using metal-resistant microbes is a promising remediation technology. However, as exogenous bacteria sometimes struggle to survive and grow when introduced to new soils, it is important to develop appropriate carriers for microbial populations. In this study, we report a novel approach to remediating Cd-contaminated rice paddy soil using biochar-supported microbial cell composites (BMCs) produced from agricultural waste (cornstalks). Pot experiments showed that amendment with BMC was more efficient at reducing root and grain Cd content than pure bacteria, while improving soil Cd fractionation toward more stabilized and less labile forms. Bacteria in the BMC medium grew more readily with more abundant metabolites than those raised in free cells, probably because biochar provides shelter via porous structures (as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy) as well as additional nutrients. Overall, the improved long-term production of microbial biomass caused by BMC inoculation results in a higher remediation efficiency. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of using biochar as an appropriate carrier for metal-tolerant bacteria to remediate Cd-contaminated paddy fields.

Enhancing Cadmium Tolerance and Pea Plant Health through Enterobacter sp. MN17 Inoculation Together with Biochar and Gravel Sand

Contamination of soils with heavy metals, particularly cadmium (Cd), is an increasingly alarming environmental issue around the world. Application of organic and inorganic immobilizing amendments such as biochar and gravel sand in combination with metal-tolerant microbes has the potential to minimize the bioavailability of Cd to plants. The present study was designed to identify the possible additive effects of the application of Enterobacter sp. MN17 as well as biochar and gravel sand on the reduction of Cd stress in plants and improvement of growth and nutritional quality of pea (Pisum sativum) plants through the reduction of Cd uptake. Pea seeds were surface sterilized then non-inoculated seeds and seeds inoculated with Enterobacter sp. MN17 were planted in artificially Cd-polluted soil, amended with the immobilizing agents biochar and gravel sand. Application of biochar and gravel sand alone and in combination not only improved the growth and nutritional quality of pea plants by in situ immobilization but also reduced the uptake of Cd by plant roots and its transport to shoots. However, microbial inoculation further enhanced the overall plant health as well as alleviated the toxic effects of Cd on the pea plants. These soil treatments also improved rates of photosynthesis and transpiration. The combined use of biochar and gravel sand with bacterial inoculation resulted in an increase in plant height (47%), shoot dry weight (42%), root dry weight (57%), and 100 seeds weight (49%) as compared to control plants in Cd contaminated soil. Likewise, biochemical constituents of pea seeds (protein, fat, fiber, and ash) were significantly increased up to 41%, 74%, 32%, and 72%, respectively, with the combined use of these immobilizing agents and bacterium. Overall, this study demonstrated that the combined application of biochar and gravel sand, particularly in combination with Enterobacter sp. MN17, could be an efficient strategy for the remediation of Cd contaminated soil. It could support better growth and nutritional quality of pea plants.

Increased biomass and reduced tissue cadmium accumulation in rice via indigenous Citrobacter sp. XT1-2-2 and its mechanisms

Microbial remediation is a promising technique to remediate heavy metals contaminated soils. In this study, the cadmium (Cd)- resistant Citrobacter sp. XT1-2-2, isolated from heavy metals contaminated paddy soils, was investigated to evaluate the effect of this strain on soil Cd speciation, cellular Cd distribution, tissue Cd accumulation and rice biomass. The percentage of Cd²⁺ removal by Citrobacter sp. XT1-2-2 was up to 82.3 ± 2.1% within 240 min in the solution. The average content of soil soluble plus exchangeable and carbonate-bound fractions of Cd decreased, whereas Fe/Mn oxide-bound, organic matter-bound and residual fractions increased with bacteria inoculation. For the paddy soil inoculated with the XT1-2-2 strain, Cd concentrations of roots, culms, leaves and grains were significantly reduced by 24.1%, 46.9%, 41.5% and 66.7%, respectively. In addition, inoculation bacteria significantly increased the biomass of the roots, above-ground tissues and the rice grains. All results indicated that the XT1-2-2 strain had the ability to immobilize soil Cd and decrease Cd accumulation in rice grains. Therefore, the XT1-2-2 strain has potential for application to remediate Cd-contaminated paddy soils. It is possible to exploit a new bacterial-assisted technique for the remediation in Cd-contaminated paddy soils.

Speciation and fate of toxic cadmium in contaminated paddy soils and rice using XANES/EXAFS spectroscopy

The present study was conducted to determine the Cd distribution and speciation in contaminated paddy soils and rice kernels using XANES/EXAFS spectroscopy. The morphology and crystallization of rice and soils were investigated using FE-SEM and XRD techniques. The EXAFS spectra of Cd in soil and rice kernels showed that cadmium oxides (CdO) in soil and rice kernels formed Cd clusters with Cd-O bond distances of 2.35 Å and 2.83 Å (coordination numbers of 2.3 and 4.2), respectively. The XRD patterns show that silica oxide (SiO₂, 2θ  = 24.2) and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃, 2θ = 35.7) were the main components detected. The FE-SEM analysis revealed that the surface characteristics and sizes of the rice kernels are smooth and uneven with particle sizes of 0.5-4 μm, while the soil particles are not uniform and aggregated. Furthermore, the distribution of toxic metals/metalloid (Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, As, Cu, and Zn) accumulated in the contaminated paddy soils and rice crops were also examined. Interestingly, these results offered an insight into the accumulation mechanism and distribution of heavy metals in contaminated rice farming soils and rice crops.

Cadmium-resistant rhizobacterium Bacillus cereus M4 promotes the growth and reduces cadmium accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice farmland cadmium pollution is an increasing problem for food safety. Cd-resistant bacterial strain was isolated from rice rhizosphere soil and identified as Bacillus cereus M4. Treatment with M4 fermentation broth increased rice seedlings growth in vermiculite, while reduced Cd accumulation in grains of rice grown in Cd-contaminated potted soil from 0.309 to 0.186 mg/kg. Indoleacetic acid (IAA) was detected in M4 metabolites and in potted soil solutions supplemented with M4 broth. M4 broth increased the abundance of Bacillus from 0.54% to 0.95% and changed the soil bacterial community composition. These findings indicate that M4 promotes rice growth by secreting IAA and altering the rhizospheric soil microenvironment, via soil solution composition and microbial community, which may affect Cd translocation from soil to rice roots, thereby decreasing grain Cd accumulation. Therefore, B. cereus M4 is potentially suitable for the bioremediation of Cd-contaminated paddy soils.

Reduction in Hg phytoavailability in soil using Hg-volatilizing bacteria and biochar and the response of the native bacterial community

Biological approaches are considered promising and eco-friendly strategies to remediate Hg contamination in soil. This study investigated the potential of two 'green' additives, Hg-volatilizing bacteria (Pseudomonas sp. DC-B1 and Bacillus sp. DC-B2) and sawdust biochar, and their combination to reduce Hg(II) phytoavailability in soil and the effect of the additives on the soil bacterial community. The results showed that the Hg(II) contents in soils and lettuce shoots and roots were all reduced with these additives, achieving more declines of 12.3-27.4%, 24.8-57.8% and 2.0-48.6%, respectively, within 56 days of incubation compared to the control with no additive. The combination of DC-B2 and 4% biochar performed best in reducing Hg(II) contents in lettuce shoots, achieving a decrease of 57.8% compared with the control. Pyrosequencing analysis showed that the overall bacterial community compositions in the soil samples were similar under different treatments, despite the fact that the relative abundance of dominant genera altered with the additives, suggesting a relatively weak impact of the additives on the soil microbial ecosystem. The low relative abundances of Pseudomonas and Bacillus, close to the background levels, at the end of the experiment indicated a small biological disturbance of the local microbial niche by the exogenous bacteria.

Abscisic acid-generating bacteria can reduce Cd concentration in pakchoi grown in Cd-contaminated soil

Contamination of vegetable plants with cadmium (Cd) has become a serious issue in recent years. In the present study, pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) grown in Cd-contaminated soil inoculated with abscisic acid (ABA)-generating bacteria, Azospirillum brasilense and Bacillus subtilis, showed 28%-281% and 26%-255% greater biomass, and 40%-79% and 43%-77% lower Cd concentrations, respectively, than those of the control_{bacteria-free} plants. These treatments also alleviated the Cd-induced photosynthesis inhibition and oxidative damage (indicated by malondialdehyde [MDA], H₂O₂, and O₂^• -). Furthermore, the application of bacteria also remarkably improved the levels of antioxidant-related compounds (total phenolics, total flavonoids, ascorbate, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] activity) and nutritional quality (soluble sugar and soluble protein) in the Cd-supplied plants. Based on these results, we conclude that the application of ABA-generating bacteria might be an alternative strategy for improving the biomass production and quality of vegetable plants grown in Cd-contaminated soil.

Dynamics and potential roles of abundant and rare subcommunities in the bioremediation of cadmium-contaminated paddy soil by Pseudomonas chenduensis

Microbial bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil is a potential technique to reduce heavy metals in crop plants. However, the dynamics and roles of the local microbiota in bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil following microbial application are rarely reported. In this study, we used Pseudomonas chenduensis strain MBR for bioremediation of Cd-contaminated paddy soil and investigated its effects on the dynamics of the local soil bacterial community and Cd accumulation in rice. Cd accumulation in rice grains and roots were significantly reduced by the addition of the strain MBR. The addition of the strain MBR caused greater changes in bacterial communities in rhizosphere soil than in bulk soil. MBR enhanced the roles of microbial communities in transformation of Cd fractions, especially in rhizosphere soil. The strain MBR likely regulated abundant subcommunities more than rare subcommunities to improve Cd bioremediation, especially in rhizosphere soil. Consequently, the dynamics and functional roles of the local microbial communities differed significantly during bioremediation between abundant and rare subcommunities and between rhizosphere soil and bulk soil. This study provides new insight into the microbiota-related mechanisms underlying bioremediation.

Effect of phosphogypsum addition in the composting process on the physico-chemical proprieties and the microbial diversity of the resulting compost tea

Phosphoric acid production and olive oil production are among the most important economical sectors in Tunisia. However, they generate huge amounts of wastes (phosphogypsum, olive mill waste water, and olive pomace). In a previous study, we used phosphogypsum (PG), in co-composting with organic wastes. Three composts were produced; their PG content was of 0 (AT), 10 (A10), and 30% (A30). In the present study, we focused on their derived compost teas. The physico-chemical characterization of the different compost teas showed that those from A10 and A30 composts presented higher P and Ca contents than that from control one (AT). The microbial characterization using DGGE showed a noticeable microbial diversity in the different compost teas and that the addition of 10% and 30% PG in the compost had different effects on the compost tea microbial diversity. The identification results showed that the addition of 10 and 30% of PG did not affect the presence of PGPR (plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria) and fungal soil antagonists in the compost teas. Two PGPRs were isolated from AT and A30 compost teas, and their effect on the growth of potato plants in vitro was evaluated.

Alleviation of cadmium toxicity to tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) by biofertilizers involves the changes of soil aggregates and bacterial communities

Tobacco leaves usually accumulate and concentrate high levels of cadmium (Cd) when growing in contaminated soil, and the transfer of Cd through tobacco smoke to human body could cause serious health risks. In this study, we explored the impact of biofertilizers on alleviating Cd-induced growth inhibition of tobacco leaves. Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) was planted in three naturally Cd-polluted soils from Chinese main tobacco-planting areas. Adding biofertilizer alleviated Cd-induced degradation of tobacco leaves quality, represented by the balanced K, Cl, N, nicotine or sugar contents and their ratios; Cd reduction rate of tobacco leaves was increased and soil extractable Cd was decreased, when compared with CK (no extra biofertilizer addition). The following changing tendencies were believed to be responsible for immobilizing soil Cd and alleviating its toxicity to tobacco leaves: the re-distribution of Cd from the fraction of smaller soil aggregates to the fraction of larger soil aggregates; and the shift of major soil microbes by increasing the abundance of beneficial taxa such as those from the phyla Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria or Chloroflexi. In all biofertilizer treatments, the effectiveness in mitigating Cd toxicity to tobacco leaves was dependent on the type of biofertilizer and soil applied. This study provides a feasible way to control or reduce Cd toxicity for sustainable tobacco production.

Simultaneous mitigation of tissue cadmium and lead accumulation in rice via sulfate-reducing bacterium

The objectives of this study were to investigate the mechanism responsible for Cd and Pb immobilization by sulfate reduction to sulfide and effectiveness of decreasing Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ bioavailability in culture solution and paddy soils via sulfate-reducing bacterium (SRB1-1). The SRB1-1 strain, exhibiting high resistances to Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺, was isolated from bulk soils in the metal(loid)-contaminated paddy field. During the culture of the SRB1-1 strain, the removal percentages of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ from culture solution reached 99.5% and 76.0% in 72 h, respectively. The surface morphology and composition of metal precipitates formed by SRB1-1 strain were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and further confirmed to be CdS and PbS by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). When living SRB1-1 strain was applied in Cd and Pb-contaminated soils, the SRB1-1 strain could stably colonize using its resistance to rifampicin, and showed significantly impact on the bacterial community composition. Cd and Pb contents in rice grains were decreased by 29.5% and 26.2%, respectively, while Cd and Pb contents in the roots, culms, leaves, and husk were also decreased ranging from 19.1% to 43%, respectively. Due to growth in highly Cd and Pb contaminated soils, Cd content of the rice grains did not meet the standard for limit of Cd and Pb, but safe production of rice plants may be obtained in slightly or moderately metal(loid)-contaminated soils in the presence of the living SRB1-1 strain. These results indicated that the SRB1-1 strain could effectively reduce the Cd and Pb bioavailability in soils and uptake in rice plants. Our results highlighted the possibility to develop a new bacterial-assisted technique for reduced metal accumulation in rice grains, and also showed potential for effective synergistic bioremediation of SRB1-1 strain and rice plants in metal(loid)-contaminated soils.

Manipulation of the rhizosphere bacterial community by biofertilizers is associated with mitigation of cadmium phytotoxicity

The objective of this study was to understand the effect of biofertilizers on cadmium (Cd)-induced phytotoxicity and the rhizosphere bacterial community. The crop specie rice (Oryza sativa L.) was planted in Cd-contaminated soils, and Illumina high-throughput sequencing was performed to investigate how the composition of the rhizosphere bacterial community responded to the addition of biofertilizers. Biofertilizers were effective in alleviating Cd phytotoxicity as indicated by the significant increase in plant biomass (up to 85.2% and 48.4% for roots and shoots, respectively) and decrease in tissue Cd concentration (up to 72.2% in roots) of rice receiving fertilizer treatments compared with the CK (no treatment). These positive effects were likely due to the increase in soil pH, which can be attributed primarily to Cd immobilization, and the promotion of beneficial taxa such as Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Gemmatimonadetes, and Firmicutes. In addition, autoclaved biofertilizers tended to have similar beneficial effects and similar bacterial community alpha diversities as the original biofertilizer treatments. This suggests that the change in soil physicochemical properties by biofertilizer addition might drive the structure of rhizosphere bacterial community, and not the biofertilizer microbes themselves. In both the original and sterilized biofertilizer treatments, the effectiveness in mitigating of Cd phytotoxicity was found to be dependent on the type of biofertilizer applied. Comparatively, the biofertilizer denoted as DY was more effective in mitigating Cd phytotoxicity than others. These results demonstrate that biofertilizer addition could be a promising approach to immobilize soil Cd by manipulating the rhizosphere bacterial community, thus to facilitate plant growth.

Inoculation of soil with cadmium-resistant bacterium Delftia sp. B9 reduces cadmium accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grains

Bioremediation of heavy metal polluted soil using metal-resistant bacteria has received increasing attentions. In the present study, we isolated a heavy metal-resistant bacterial strain from a Cd-contaminated soil, and conducted pot experiments to evaluate the effect of bacterial inoculation in soil on soil Cd speciation, rice grain biomass and Cd accumulation. We find that the isolated bacterial strain is a Gram-negative bacterium, and named as Delftia sp. B9 based on the 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. TEM-EDS manifests that Cd can be bioaccumulated inside cell, resulting in intracellular dissolution. The Cd contents of rice grain in the two rice cultivars (early and late rice) are all below the standard limit for Food Safety of People's Republic of China (0.2 mg/kg) after the treatment of both living and non-living cells. Non-living cells are more applicable than the use of living cells for the short time bioremediation. The average content of soil exchangeable fraction of Cd decreases whereas the residual fraction increases with bacterial inoculation. All our results suggest Delftia sp. B9 is able to the stabilization of Cd in soil and reduce Cd accumulation in rice grain, therefore, this strain is potentially suitable for the bioremediation of Cd-contaminated paddy soils.

Effects of Pseudomonas chenduensis and biochar on cadmium availability and microbial community in the paddy soil

The cadmium contamination in the paddy soil results in serious environmental pollutions. In situ soil remediation based on the applications of additives such as functional microorganisms and biochars has gradually attained more attentions. However, how these exogenous additives affect the local microbial communities is less discussed. In this study, a heavy metal resistant bacterium (Pseudomonas chenduensis, strain MBR) and biochar derived from oil palm fibers were separately added into the simulated Cd-contaminated paddy soil to investigate the roles of these additives in the soil remediation and regulating local microbial community. The results showed that compared with control, the addition of the strain MBR and biochar reduced the exchangeable/acid soluble cadmium fraction by 30% and 18%, respectively. Moreover, higher microbial diversity, more deterministic effects and less variation in microbial community were observed in the treatments supplemented with the strain MBR and biochar, and the increase of the deterministic effects on microbial interactions was demonstrated by network analysis further. Additionally, the abundance of the strain MBR in the paddy soil decreased as time passed, which maximally decreased the disturbance for the local micro-ecological niche and ensured ecological security. These results showed that two additives supplementation, in particular Pseudomonas chenduensis, can significantly decrease cadmium availability, contributing to the reduction of the disturbance on soil microbial community and maintaining microbial stability under cadmium pressure. It highlights a new criterion referred to micro-ecology for the evaluation of the roles of additives in local soil remediation.

Mitigation of arsenic toxicity and accumulation in hydroponically grown rice seedlings by co-inoculation with arsenite-oxidizing and cadmium-tolerant bacteria

Arsenic (As) contamination of rice grain is a serious problem worldwide. The objective of this study was to mitigate As toxicity and accumulation in hydroponically grown KDML105 rice seedlings using bacteria isolated from heavy metal-contaminated soils. Seven strains (KKU2500-1, -2, -3, -9, -12, -16 and -22) of 24 cadmium (Cd)-tolerant bacteria produced high levels of inorganic sulfide and thiol-rich compounds in As-supplemented media. The strains were allowed to colonize rice seedlings growing in arsenite [As(III)]- or arsenate [As(V)]-supplemented Hoagland's nutrient solutions. Colonization by strains KKU2500-3 and -12 led to increases in plant growth parameters and similarly reduced As translocation into shoots [translocation factor (TF) = 0.05] in the As(V)-supplemented solution. Strains KKU2500-1 and - 12 also greatly reduced As translocation into shoots (TF = 0.16-0.20) in As(III)-supplemented solution. KKU2500-3 and - 12 co-colonized onto seedlings with the As(III)-oxidizing isolates 4.25, 4.27, 4.40 and 4.44, and the strain combinations KKU2500-12/4.25, KKU2500-3/4.25, KKU2500-3/4.27 and KKU2500-3/4.44 resulted in higher growth parameters for plants grown in As [As(III)+As(V)]-supplemented solution than other combinations. Moreover, the combinations KKU2500-3/4.25 and KKU2500-3/4.44 greatly reduced As translocation (TF = 0.15 and 0.12, respectively), and this decreased As accumulation in shoots was significantly correlated with increased sulfide stimulation in roots and nutrient solution. These results indicate that these co-inoculated bacteria can mitigate As toxicity, translocation and accumulation in KDML105 seedlings and thus demonstrate synergistic activity in rice plants, and this effect can be further developed in field trials.

Immobilization of cadmium by immobilized Alishewanella sp. WH16-1 with alginate-lotus seed pods in pot experiments of Cd-contaminated paddy soil

This study prepared immobilized Alishewanella sp. WH16-1 using alginate and lotus seed pods as a matrix and investigated the effects of its immobilization on Cd²⁺ in a culture solution and in soil. Compared with the free WH16-1 strain, the immobilized WH16-1 strain possessed greater stability for long-term use and storage and higher removal ability for Cd²⁺ in the culture solution. A model of Cd²⁺ removal by the immobilized WH16-1 strain was proposed. The immobilized WH16-1 strain was incubated in the pot experiments of Cd-contaminated paddy soil for 120 days, and the pot experiments of Cd-contaminated paddy soil without the immobilized WH16-1 strain were used as a control. Compared with the control, the exchangeable and carbonate-bound Cd in the paddy soil incubated with the immobilized WH16-1 strain significantly decreased by 33.6% (P < 0.05) and 17.36%, respectively, and the Cd concentrations in the rice significantly decreased by 78.31% (P < 0.05). The results indicate that alginate-lotus seed pods can be used as excellent cost-effective cell carriers for the immobilization of Alishewanella sp. WH16-1 and that the immobilized WH16-1 strain may be applicable for the biological stabilization of Cd in Cd-contaminated paddy soil.

Effect of microorganisms on reducing cadmium uptake and toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

This study analyzed the application of three microorganism inoculums, including Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, and commercial effective microorganism (EM) solution in order to determine cadmium (Cd) reduction in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and rice growth promotion. Rice was grown in Cd-contaminated soil (120 mg/kg) and selected microorganisms were inoculated. Cd concentration and rice weight were measured at 45 and 120 days of the experiment. The result showed that B. subtilis inoculation into rice can highly reduce Cd accumulation in every part of rice roots and shoots (45 days), and grains (120 days). This species can effectively absorb Cd compared to other inoculums, which might be the main mechanism to reduce Cd transportation in rice plants. Interestingly, plants that were inoculated with bacterial species individually harbored higher calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) accumulation; B. subtilis-inoculated plants had the highest levels of Ca and Mg compared to other inoculated ones. Moreover, inoculating rice plants with these microorganisms could increase the dry weight of the plant and protect them from Cd stress because all the inoculums presented the ability to solubilize phosphate, produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and control ethylene levels by 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity. After 120 days, quantification of each inoculum by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) confirmed the root colonization of bacterial species, with B. subtilis showing higher 16S rRNA gene copy numbers than the other species. B. subtilis was classified as a non-human pathogenic strain, reassuring the safe application of this plant growth-promoting bacterium as a crop inoculum.

Potentially toxic elements to maize in agricultural soils-microbial approach of rhizospheric and bulk soils and phytoaccumulation

Maize fields near Mae Tao Creek in Pha Te Village, Tak Province, Thailand are contaminated with Zn, Cd, and Pb. This research studied the interaction between levels of the metals contaminating the soil and maize development, heavy metal accumulation in the seeds, and the soil bacterial community structure. Our field experiment was carried out in five plots with metal contents that gradually decreased from a high level near the creek to a lower level further into the land: Zn 380-4883 mg kg^-1, Cd 6-85 mg kg^-1, and Pb 34-154 mg kg^-1. Cultivation and isolation on nutrient agar (NA) was utilized to study the culturable bacterial community, and polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) was utilized for the unculturable bacterial communities. All statistical analyses clearly indicated that rainfall and irrigation were the main factors affecting total Zn concentration and bioavailable Zn, Cd, and Pb in the field. The variation in the contents of the heavy metals was weakly correlated with the culturable bacterial community indices (Shannon-Wiener, evenness and richness), but the contents resulted in a difference in the overall diversity of the bacteria in the soil. The richness, numbers of culturable rhizobacteria, and maize growth stage significantly affected the amount of Zn and Cd that accumulated in the roots. In addition, maize accumulated a high level of Zn in the seeds, while the low contents of Cd and Pb in the seeds were below our limit of detection. The results obtained could be informative for the management of maize cultivation in the area.

Use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) with multiple plant growth promoting traits in stress agriculture: Action mechanisms and future prospects

Increased incidence of abiotic stresses impacting adversely plant growth and productivity in major crops is being witnessed all over the world. Therefore, as a result of such stress factors, plant growth under the stress conditions will be less than the non-stress conditions. Growing concerns and global demand for correct, environmentally-friendly techniques exist to reduce the adverse effects of plant stress. Under such stressful conditions, the role of interactions of plant and beneficial microorganisms is of great significance. Application of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) is a useful option to decrease these stresses and is now widely in practice. Plants inoculated with PGPRs induce morphological and biochemical modifications resulting in increased tolerance to abiotic stresses defined as IST (induced systemic tolerance). PGPRs increase plant growth and resistance to abiotic stresses through various mechanisms (more than one mechanism of action) such as production of ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate) deaminase, reducing production of stress ethylene, modifications in phytohormonal content, induction of synthezing plant antioxidative enzymes, improvement in the uptake of essential mineral elements, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, decrease in the absorbtion of excess nutrients/heavy metals, and induction of abiotic stress resistance genes. Experimental evidence also suggests that stimulated plant growth by these bacteria is the net result of various mechanisms of action that are activated simultaneously. In this review paper, we reviewed the action mechanisms through which PGPRs could alleviate abiotic stresses (salinity, drought, heavy metal toxicity, and nutritional imbalance) in plants. Use of PGPRs is predicted to become a suitable strategy and an emerging trend in sustainable enhancement of plant growth. Generally, ACC deaminase and IAA-producing bacteria can be a good option for optimal crop production and production of bio-fertilizers in the future due to having multiple potentials in alleviating stresses of salinity, drought, nutrient imbalance, and heavy metals toxicity in plants. This review paper also emphasizes future research needs about the combined utilization of stress tolerant-PGPRs with multiple plant growth promoting (PGP) characteristics under environmental stresses.

Alleviation of phytotoxic effects of cadmium on rice seedlings by cadmium resistant PGPR strain Enterobacter aerogenes MCC 3092

Heavy metal resistant PGPR mediated bioremediation, phytostimulation and stress alleviation is an eco-friendly method for sustainable agriculture in the metal contaminated soil. The isolation of such PGPR is highly demanding to reduce heavy metals in contaminated cultivated fields for agricultural benefit. The present study was successful to isolate a potent multi-heavy metal resistant PGPR strain, identified as Enterobacter aerogenes strain K6 based on MALDI-TOF MS, FAME analysis and 16S rDNA sequence homology, from rice rhizosphere contaminated with a variety of heavy metals/metalloid near industrial area. The strain exhibited high degree of resistance to Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺ and As³⁺ upto 4000 μg/mL, 3800 μg/mL and 1500 μg/mL respectively. Intracellular Cd accumulation of this strain was evidenced by AAS-SEM-TEM-EDX-XRF studies. Moreover, it showed several important PGP traits like IAA production, nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, ACC deaminase activity even under high Cd stress (upto 3000 μg/mL). The combined effect of Cd resistance and PGP activities of this strain was manifested to the significant (p < 0.05) growth promotion of rice seedling under Cd stress by reducing oxidative stress (through antioxidants), stress ethylene and Cd uptake in seedlings. Thus K6 strain conferred Cd-tolerance in rice seedlings and could be applied as PGPR in contaminated fields.

Different efficiencies of the same mechanisms result in distinct Cd tolerance within Rhizobium

Soil contamination with metals is a widespread problem posing risks to humans and ecosystems. Metal contaminated soils often hold poor microbial density and biodiversity. Among soil bacteria, rhizobia have a great agronomic and environmental significance and are major contributors to a sustainable maintenance of soil fertility. This group of microorganisms are severely affected by metals, such as cadmium (Cd), but information about metal resistance mechanisms in rhizobia is still limited. A concerted approach of the different mechanisms conferring Cd tolerance to rhizobia was conducted using two Rhizobium strains with contrasting tolerances to Cd. Results show that both strains resort to the same mechanisms (extracellular immobilization, periplasmic allocation, cytoplasmic sequestration and biotransformation of toxic products) to overcome stress, but differences in the efficiencies of some mechanisms were noticed. The ability of Rhizobium to increase glutathione in the presence of Cd emerges as a central factor in the tolerance to Cd and is as a feature to be looked for when screening or transforming microorganisms to integrate plant-microbe consortia. These could promote plant growth at contaminated sites, being more efficient for the cleanup of metals from contaminated sites and the restoration of soil quality.

Reduction of cadmium uptake in rice endophytically colonized with the cadmium-tolerant bacterium Cupriavidus taiwanensis KKU2500-3

The effects of the cadmium (Cd)-tolerant bacterium Cupriavidus taiwanensis KKU2500-3 on the growth, yield, and Cd concentration in rice grains were investigated in the rice variety Phitsanulok 2 (PL2), which was cultivated in a hydroponic greenhouse. The numbers of Cd-tolerant bacteria isolated from the roots and shoots of plants under the RB (rice with bacteria) and RBC (rice with bacteria and Cd) treatments ranged from 2.60 to 9.03 and from 3.99 to 9.60 log cfu·g−1 of PL2, respectively. This KKU2500-3 strain was successfully colonized in rice, indicating that it was not only nontoxic to the plants but also became distributed and reproduced throughout the plants. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed attachment of the bacterium to the root surface, whereas the internally colonized bacteria were located in the vascular tissue, cell wall, and intercellular space. Although the Cd contents found in PL2 were very high (189.10 and 79.49 mg·kg−1 in the RC (rice with Cd) and RBC roots, respectively), the Cd accumulated inside the rice seeds at densities of only 3.10 and 1.31 mg·kg−1, respectively; thus, the bacteria reduced the Cd content to 57.74% of the control content. Therefore, the colonizing bacteria likely acted as an inhibitor of Cd translocation in PL2.

Nature and mechanisms of aluminium toxicity, tolerance and amelioration in symbiotic legumes and rhizobia

Recent findings on the effect of aluminium (Al) on the functioning of legumes and their associated microsymbionts are reviewed here. Al represents 7% of solid matter in the Earth's crust and is an important abiotic factor that alters microbial and plant functioning at very early stages. The trivalent Al (Al³⁺) dominates at pH < 5 in soils and becomes a constraint to legume productivity through its lethal effect on rhizobia, the host plant and their interaction. Al³⁺ has lethal effects on many aspects of the rhizobia/legume symbiosis, which include a decrease in root elongation and root hair formation, lowered soil rhizobial population, and suppression of nitrogen metabolism involving nitrate reduction, nitrite reduction, nitrogenase activity and the functioning of uptake of hydrogenases (Hup), ultimately impairing the N₂ fixation process. At the molecular level, Al is known to suppress the expression of nodulation genes in symbiotic rhizobia, as well as the induction of genes for the formation of hexokinase, phosphodiesterase, phosphooxidase and acid/alkaline phosphatase. Al toxicity can also induce the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and callose, in addition to lipoperoxidation in the legume root elongation zone. Al tolerance in plants can be achieved through over-expression of citrate synthase gene in roots and/or the synthesis and release of organic acids that reverse Al-induced changes in proteins, as well as metabolic regulation by plant-secreted microRNAs. In contrast, Al tolerance in symbiotic rhizobia is attained via the production of exopolysaccharides, the synthesis of siderophores that reduce Al uptake, induction of efflux pumps resistant to heavy metals and the expression of metal-inducible (dmeRF) gene clusters in symbiotic Rhizobiaceae. In soils, Al toxicity is usually ameliorated through liming, organic matter supply and use of Al-tolerant species. Our current understanding of crop productivity in high Al soils suggests that a much greater future accumulation of Al is likely to occur in agricultural soils globally if crop irrigation is increased under a changing climate.

Modeling of phytoextraction efficiency of microbially stimulated Salix dasyclados L. in the soils with different speciation of heavy metals

Bioaugmentation of soils with selected microorganisms during phytoextraction can be the key solution for successful bioremediation and should be accurately calculated for different physicochemical soil properties and heavy metal availability to guarantee the universality of this method. Equally important is the development of an accurate prediction tool to manage phytoremediation process. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the role of three metallotolerant siderophore-producing Streptomyces sp. B1-B3 strains in the phytoremediation of heavy metals with the use of S. dasyclados L. growing in four metalliferrous soils as well as modeling the efficiency of this process based on physicochemical and microbiological properties of the soils using artificial neural network (ANN) analysis. The bacterial inoculation of plants significantly stimulated plant biomass and reduced oxidative stress. Moreover, the bacteria affected the speciation of heavy metals and finally their mobility, thereby enhancing the uptake and bioaccumulation of Zn, Cd, and Pb in the biomass. The best capacity for phytoextraction was noted for strain B1, which had the highest siderophore secretion ability. Finally, ANN model permitted to predict efficiency of phytoextraction based on both the physicochemical properties of the soils and the activity of the soil microbiota with high precision.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SAY09 Increases Cadmium Resistance in Plants by Activation of Auxin-Mediated Signaling Pathways

Without physical contact with plants, certain plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to regulate nutrient acquisition and induce systemic immunity in plants. However, whether the PGPR-emitted VOCs can induce cadmium (Cd) tolerance of plants and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we probed the effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (strain SAY09)-emitted VOCs on the growth of Arabidopsis plants under Cd stress. SAY09 exposure alleviates Cd toxicity in plants with increased auxin biosynthesis. RNA-Seq analyses revealed that SAY09 exposure provoked iron (Fe) uptake- and cell wall-associated pathways in the Cd-treated plants. However, SAY09 exposure failed to increase Cd resistance of plants after treatment with 1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) or 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (c-PTIO). Under Cd stress, SAY09 exposure markedly promoted Fe absorption in plants with the increased hemicellulose 1 (HC1) content and Cd deposition in root cell wall, whereas these effects were almost abrogated by treatment with NPA or c-PTIO. Moreover, exogenous NPA remarkably repressed the accumulation of nitric oxide (NO) in the SAY09-exposed roots under Cd stress. Taken together, the findings indicated that NO acted as downstream signals of SAY09-induced auxin to regulate Fe acquisition and augment Cd fixation in roots, thereby ameliorating Cd toxicity.

Characterization of cadmium-resistant bacteria and their potential for reducing accumulation of cadmium in rice grains

Cadmium (Cd) pollution is a serious widespread environmental problem that not only destroys the microbial ecology of soil and decreases crop production, but also poses a serious risk to human health. Many methods have been used for the remediation of Cd pollution but none of these is totally satisfactory. Microbial remediation strategies have attracted increasing interest since they are environmentally friendly and cost-effective. In the present study, three Cd-resistant bacteria were isolated and evaluated for potential application in Cd bioremediation. Based on their morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, together with 16S rDNA gene sequence analyses, bacteria were identified as Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila (2#), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9#) and Delftia tsuruhatensis (12#). Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed very high tolerance to metals, especially Cd (2200mg/L), Zn (1800mg/L) and Pb (1200mg/L), and is thought to be a multi-metal-resistant bacterium. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was also sensitive to 13 different antibiotics. The effects of the bacterial strains on the growth of rice plants and their ability to reduce Cd accumulation from Cd-contaminated soils in pot experiments were also evaluated. For Oryza sativa L. A grown in contaminated soil (3mg/kg Cd), the accumulation of Cd was decreased by 31.2 and 25.5% in brown rice and polished rice, respectively, by strain 9#; Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more effective in reducing Cd accumulation in rice grains than a mixture of strains. For Oryza sativa L. B, a mixture of strains acting synergistically was more effective than a single strain in reducing Cd accumulation; treatment with mixed strains (strains+3mg/kg Cd) resulted in 41.3, 35.9, and 32.6% reductions in Cd accumulation in unhulled rice, brown rice and polished rice, respectively. Although different results were obtained for two rice varieties, it can still be concluded that Cd-resistant bacteria are suitable for reducing Cd accumulation in rice grains and show potential for bioremediation of Cd-contaminated soils.

Assessing the bioremediation potential of arsenic tolerant bacterial strains in rice rhizosphere interface

The arsenic tolerant bacterial strains Staphylococcus arlettae (NBRIEAG-6), Staphylococcus sp. (NBRIEAG-8) and Brevibacillus sp. (NBRIEAG-9) were tested for their roles in enhancing plant growth and induction of stress-related enzymes in rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. NDR-359) plants at two different concentrations, 30 and 15mg/kg of As(V) and As(III), respectively. An experiment was conducted to test the effect of these strains on plant growth promotion and arsenic uptake. We found 30%-40% reduction in total As uptake in bacteria-inoculated plants, with increased plant growth parameters compared to non-inoculated plants. Moreover, the bacteria-inoculated plants showed reduced activity of total glutathione (GSH) and glutathione reductase (GR) compared to their respective controls, which suggests the bacteria-mediated reduction of oxidative stress in plants. Thus, these strains were found to be beneficial in terms of the biochemical and physiological status of the plants under arsenic stress conditions. Furthermore, one-way ANOVA and principal component analysis (PCA) on enzymatic and non-enzymatic assays also revealed clear variations. The results support the distinction between control and treatments in both shoots and roots. Therefore, this study demonstrates the potential of rhizobacteria in alleviating arsenic stress in rice plants.

Cadmium stress in rice: toxic effects, tolerance mechanisms, and management: a critical review

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the main pollutants in paddy fields, and its accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and subsequent transfer to food chain is a global environmental issue. This paper reviews the toxic effects, tolerance mechanisms, and management of Cd in a rice paddy. Cadmium toxicity decreases seed germination, growth, mineral nutrients, photosynthesis, and grain yield. It also causes oxidative stress and genotoxicity in rice. Plant response to Cd toxicity varies with cultivars, growth condition, and duration of Cd exposure. Under Cd stress, stimulation of antioxidant defense system, osmoregulation, ion homeostasis, and over production of signaling molecules are important tolerance mechanisms in rice. Several strategies have been proposed for the management of Cd-contaminated paddy soils. One such approach is the exogenous application of hormones, osmolytes, and signaling molecules. Moreover, Cd uptake and toxicity in rice can be decreased by proper application of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, zinc, iron, and selenium in Cd-contaminated soils. In addition, several inorganic (liming and silicon) and organic (compost and biochar) amendments have been applied in the soils to reduce Cd stress in rice. Selection of low Cd-accumulating rice cultivars, crop rotation, water management, and exogenous application of microbes could be a reasonable approach to alleviate Cd toxicity in rice. To draw a sound conclusion, long-term field trials are still required, including risks and benefit analysis for various management strategies.

Regulations of essential amino acids and proteomics of bacterial endophytes Sphingomonas sp. Lk11 during cadmium uptake

Endophytic bacteria have been recently known for their potential to bioaccumulate metal from contaminated mediums. However, little is known about the physiological responses of phytohormone producing (gibberellins and auxins) endophytes during metal stressed environment. Endophytic bacteria Sphingomonas sp. LK11 was assessed for metals bioaccumulation and its physiological responses towards metal stress. The endophyte was grown in cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) contaminated mediums. The results revealed significantly higher endophytic growth potentials in Cd, Cu and Zn contaminations; however, the bio-accumulation rate of Cd was more prolific as compared to Zn and Cu. Interestingly, the SDS-PAGE profile showed increased expressions of proteins in Zn and Cu than in Cd. A similar attenuate response of amino acids was also observed for Cd than in case of Zn and Cu. Only asparagine, glutamate and proline showed significant impact in Cd while Cu and Zn had significantly higher responses of almost all amino acids. Detailed protein profile showed the activation of chaperone, antioxidative and detoxification proteins. Increased regulations of oxidoreductases, superoxide dismutase, thioredoxin, malate dehydrogenase, 2-oxoisovalerate dehydrogenase, 2-oxoisovalerate dehydrogenase, and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase were observed. The cellular defense-related protein responses were potent against Cd stress. The results conclude that Sphingomonas sp. LK11 reprogram its amino acids and proteomic expressions and maintain a steady growth during Cd stress. Using such phytohromones producing endophytic bacterium can be ideal approach to increase the phytoextraction potential of metal remediating plants. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 887-896, 2016.

Copper-resistant bacteria reduces oxidative stress and uptake of copper in lentil plants: potential for bacterial bioremediation

For effective microbe-assisted bioremediation, metal-resistant plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) must facilitate plant growth by restricting excess metal uptake in plants, leading to prevent its bio-amplification in the ecosystem. The aims of our study were to isolate and characterize copper (Cu)-resistant PGPB from waste water receiving contaminated soil. In addition, we investigated the phytotoxic effect of copper on the lentil plants inoculated with copper-resistant bacteria Providencia vermicola, grown in copper-contaminated soil. Copper-resistant P. vermicola showed multiple plant growth promoting characteristics, when used as a seed inoculant. It protected the lentil plants from copper toxicity with a considerable increase in root and shoot length, plant dry weight and leaf area. A notable increase in different gas exchange characteristics such as A, E, C i , g s , and A/E, as well as increase in N and P accumulation were also recorded in inoculated plants as compared to un-inoculated copper stressed plants. In addition, leaf chlorophyll content, root nodulation, number of pods, 1,000 seed weight were also higher in inoculated plants as compared with non-inoculated ones. Anti-oxidative defense mechanism improved significantly via elevated expression of reactive oxygen species -scavenging enzymes including ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and guaiacol peroxidase with alternate decrease in malondialdehyde and H2O2 contents, reduced electrolyte leakage, proline, and total phenolic contents suggesting that inoculation of P. vermicola triggered heavy metals stress-related defense pathways under copper stress. Overall, the results demonstrated that the P. vermicola seed inoculation confer heavy metal stress tolerance in lentil plant which can be used as a potent biotechnological tool to cope with the problems of copper pollution in crop plants for better yield.

Effect of biochars and microorganisms on cadmium accumulation in rice grains grown in Cd-contaminated soil

Cadmium (Cd) contaminated in rice grains is a serious problem because most Asians consume rice on a daily basis. Rice grown in Cd-contaminated soil normally did not have high concentration of Cd. However, soil samples used in this study had high concentrations of Cd. The purpose of this study was to clearly see the effects of biochar and microorganism addition in rice growing in Cd-contaminated soil. The initial Cd concentration in Cd-contaminated soil used in this study was about 650 mg kg(-1). Cadmium concentration in rice plants grown in Cd-contaminated soil with the addition of 1% (w/w) different biochars such as sawdust fly ash (SDFA), bagasse fly ash (BGFA), and rice husk ash (RHA) was investigated. The results showed that SDFA was the best biochar in terms of reducing cadmium accumulation in rice grains when compared to BGFA and RHA under the same conditions. In addition, rice plants grown in Cd-contaminated soil with the addition of various nonpathogenic microorganisms, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Beauveria bassiana were also studied. The results showed that the addition of 2% (v/v) microorganisms can reduce Cd accumulation in grains. It was found that grains obtained from Cd-contaminated soil with the addition of P. aeruginosa had the lowest cadmium concentration compared to the ones from soil amended with other strains. This was due to the fact that P. aeruginosa adsorbed more Cd itself into its cells than other strains. The rice plants grown in Cd-contaminated soil with the addition of biochars and microorganisms were also compared. The results showed that adding 2% (v/v) microorganisms seemed to reduce Cd accumulation in rice grains better than adding 1% (w/w) biochars. In addition, the amounts of calcium and magnesium in rice grains and the dry weight of plant in Cd-contaminated soil amended with P. aeruginosa were the highest in comparison to other microorganisms, biochars, and the soil without any amendments (Cd-soil control). It might be possible that microorganisms can cause leaching of Ca, Mg, etc. from contaminated soil and compete with Cd to be uptaken by plants. This would cause the increase in plant dry weight and higher mineral nutrients accumulation in grains. Both biochars and microorganisms are suitable for reducing the amount of Cd in rice grains. The application should depend on farmers, biochars available in nearby areas, etc. Therefore, microorganisms and biochars can be used to solve the problem of cadmium contamination in rice grains.

Role of Penicillium chrysogenum XJ-1 in the Detoxification and Bioremediation of Cadmium

Microbial bioremediation is a promising technology to treat heavy metal-contaminated soils. However, the efficiency of filamentous fungi as bioremediation agents remains unknown, and the detoxification mechanism of heavy metals by filamentous fungi remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the cell morphology and antioxidant systems of Penicillium chrysogenum XJ-1 in response to different cadmium (Cd) concentrations (0-10 mM) by using physico-chemical and biochemical methods. Cd in XJ-1 was mainly bound to the cell wall. The malondialdehyde level in XJ-1 cells was increased by 14.82-94.67 times with the increase in Cd concentration. The activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase (GR), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) peaked at 1 mM Cd, whereas that of catalase peaked at 5 mM Cd. Cd exposure increased the glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio and the activities of GR and G6PDH in XJ-1. These results suggested that the Cd detoxification mechanism of XJ-1 included biosorption, cellular sequestration, and antioxidant defense. The application of XJ-1 in Cd-polluted soils (5-50 mg kg(-1)) successfully reduced bioavailable Cd and increased the plant yield, indicating that this fungus was a promising candidate for in situ bioremediation of Cd-polluted soil.

Bioaccumulation and biosorption of Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) by bacteria isolated from a zinc mine in Thailand

The three bacteria, Tsukamurella paurometabola A155, Pseudomonas aeruginosa B237, and Cupriavidus taiwanensis E324, were isolated from soils collected from a zinc mine in Tak Province, Thailand. Among these bacteria, P. aeruginosa B237 and C. taiwanensis E324 were tolerant of both cadmium and zinc, while T. paurometabola A155 was highly tolerant of zinc only. Bioaccumulation experiment revealed that Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) were mainly adsorbed on the cell walls of these bacteria rather than accumulated inside the cells. During Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) biosorption, P. aeruginosa B237 and T. paurometabola A155 showed the highest removal efficiencies for Cd(2+) and Zn(2+), respectively. The maximum biosorption capacities of P. aeruginosa B237 and T. paurometabola A155 biomasses for Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) biosorptions were 16.89 and 16.75 mg g(-1), respectively, under optimal conditions. The experimental data of Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) biosorptions fitted well with Langmuir isotherm model, suggesting that Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) adsorptions occurred in a monolayer pattern on a homogeneous surface. Furthermore, the pseudo-second order and pseudo-first order kinetic models best described the biosorption kinetics of Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) adsorptions, respectively, suggesting that the Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) adsorptions took place mainly by chemisorption (Cd(2+)) and physisorption (Zn(2+)).

Strain-specific bioaccumulation and intracellular distribution of Cd²⁺ in bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere, ectomycorrhizae, and fruitbodies of ectomycorrhizal fungi

Bioaccumulation of Cd(2+) in soil bacteria might represent an important route of metal transfer to associated mycorrhizal fungi and plants and may have potential as a tool to accelerate Cd(2+) extraction in the bioremediation of contaminated soils. The present study examined the bioaccumulation of Cd(2+) in 15 bacterial strains representing three phyla (Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes) that were isolated from the rhizosphere, ectomycorrhizae, and fruitbody of ectomycorrhizal fungi. The strains Pseudomonas sp. IV-111-14, Variovorax sp. ML3-12, and Luteibacter sp. II-116-7 displayed the highest biomass productivity at the highest tested Cd(2+) concentration (2 mM). Microscopic analysis of the cellular Cd distribution revealed intracellular accumulation by strains Massilia sp. III-116-18, Pseudomonas sp. IV-111-14, and Bacillus sp. ML1-2. The quantities of Cd measured in the interior of the cells ranged from 0.87 to 1.31 weight % Cd. Strains originating from the rhizosphere exhibited higher Cd(2+) accumulation efficiencies than strains from ectomycorrhizal roots or fruitbodies. The high Cd tolerances of Pseudomonas sp. IV-111-16 and Bacillus sp. ML1-2 were attributed to the binding of Cd(2+) as cadmium phosphate. Furthermore, silicate binding of Cd(2+) by Bacillus sp. ML1-2 was observed. The tolerance of Massilia sp. III-116-18 to Cd stress was attributed to a simultaneous increase in K(+) uptake in the presence of Cd(2+) ions. We conclude that highly Cd-tolerant and Cd-accumulating bacterial strains from the genera Massilia sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Bacillus sp. might offer a suitable tool to improve the bioremediation efficiency of contaminated soils.

Changes in the proteome of the cadmium-tolerant bacteria Cupriavidus taiwanensis KKU2500-3 in response to cadmium toxicity

Cupriavidus taiwanensis KKU2500-3 is a cadmium (Cd)-tolerant bacterial strain that was previously isolated from rice fields contaminated with high levels of Cd. In 500 μmol/L CdCl2, the KKU2500-3 strain grew slower and with a more prolonged lag-phase than when grown in the absence of Cd. A proteomic approach was used to characterize the protein expression in the Cd-tolerant bacteria C. taiwanensis KKU2500-3 during growth under Cd stress. When compared with the untreated cells, a total of 982 differentially expressed protein spots were observed in the CdCl2-treated cells, and 59 and 10 spots exhibited >2- and >4-fold changes, respectively. The level of up- and downregulation varied from 2.01- to 11.26-fold and from 2.01- to 5.34-fold, respectively. Of the 33 differentially expressed protein spots analyzed by MALDI TOF MS/MS, 19 spots were successfully identified, many of which were involved in stress responses. The most highly upregulated protein (+7.95-fold) identified was the chaperone GroEL, which indicated that this factor likely contributed to the bacterial survival and growth in response to Cd toxicity. Detection of the downregulated protein flagellin (–3.52-fold) was consistent with the less effective ATP-mediated and flagella-driven motility. The flagella-losing cells were also observed in the Cd-treated bacteria when analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Thus, the Cd-stressed cells may downregulate pathways involving ATP utilization in favor of other mechanisms in response to Cd toxicity. When the KKU2500-3 strain was grown in the presence of Cd, H2S was not detected, suggesting a possible role of the sulfur in precipitation with Cd. Apart from a general response, no specific process could be determined using the present proteomic approach. However, the potential role of protein folding-mediated GroEL, flagella-mediated motility and CdS biotransformation in Cd toxicity response observed in this study as well as the extent of Cd-tolerant mechanisms using other methods could facilitate the future application of this strain in addressing Cd environmental contamination.