Plant-rhizobacteria interaction: Physiological implication for heavy metal stress in plants—A review

Abstract

Rhizobacteria are root-colonizing, non-pathogenic, and their association with the roots of plant improves productivity and tolerance of abiotic stress such as heavy metal toxicity. Inoculation against biotic stresses also increases tolerance against heavy metal toxicity. Rhizobacteria might also increase nutrient uptake from soils that prevents the uptake and accumulation of nitrates and phosphates in agricultural soils. Also, some useful bacteria-mediated plants showed gene-expressions during plant-rhizobacteria interaction. Mining activities affect plant and health via water through: the method of extraction; contamination of local water sources as well as having harmful effects on the environment such as beach erosion from sand mining or by longer term effects on reducing microbial and biodiversity populations. Here, we review the current understanding of the physiological implications of rhizobacteria in the alleviation of heavy metal toxicity in plants, enabling cross-protection in agricultural advancement systems affected by growing climatic changes in natural conditions.

Keywords:

• Rhizobacteria
• antioxidants
• heavy metal toxicity
• phytoremediation
• cross-protection