Title: Effect of endophytic-assisted phytoremediation on plant growth and chromium (Cr) toxicity reduction in contaminated soil

Authors: Uzma Noreen; Aliya Khalid; Narmeen Inderyas; Shahzada Amani-Room; Syed Moazzam Nizami; Majid Hussain

Addresses: Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan ' Department of Microbiology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan ' Department of Environmental Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan ' Department of Environmental Sciences, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan ' Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, The University of Haripur, Hattar Road Haripur City, 22620, KP, Pakistan ' Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, The University of Haripur, Hattar Road Haripur City, 22620, KP, Pakistan

Abstract: This study focused on phytoremediation of chromium (Cr) through endophytic bacteria. Four endophytic bacteria i.e. Pseudomonas putida (CEN2), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CEN3), Acinetobacter baumanni (CEN4), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CEN5) were selected for phytoremediation experiments to investigate its effects on plant growth and Cr uptake. Phytoremediation experiment was carried out by using one hyper accumulator (Brassica napus) and one non-hyper accumulator plant (Coriandrum sativum), grown in agricultural soil amended with three different concentrations 50 ppm, 100 ppm and 200 ppm of Cr for 60 days. In Brassica napus, endophytic consortia showed maximum root, shoot elongation and vigour index at all concentrations. In Coriandrum sativum CEN5 strain showed maximum root, shoot length and vigour index. Brassica napus with consortia produced maximum fresh and dry biomass as compared to the control treatments. Therefore, endophytic-assisted phytoremediation could be a promising tool for mitigating heavy metals toxicity from polluted soil without any negative effects on plant growth.

Keywords: chromium; phytoremediation; endophytes; Brassica napus; Coriander sativum.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2021.114348

International Journal of Global Warming, 2021 Vol.23 No.4, pp.429 - 447

Received: 04 Mar 2020
Accepted: 02 Sep 2020
Published online: 19 Apr 2021 *

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