Assessment of the antioxidative response and culturable micro-organisms of Lygeum spartum Loefl. ex L. for prospective phytoremediation applications

Abstract

Abundant plant species in arid industrial areas are mining phyto-resources for sustainable phyto-management. However, the association with their rhizosphere is still poorly known for phytoremediation purposes. This study aims to assess the heavy metals (HMs) and metalloids uptake of Lygeum spartum Loefl. ex L. growing in cement plant vicinity and screen associated culturome for potential phytoremediation use. Bioaccumulation factor (BAF), the translocation factor (TF), and the mobility ratio (MR) were studied along with four sites. Lipid peroxidation (MDA), free proline (Pro), Non-protein thiols (NPTs), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were tested for evaluating the plant antioxidative response. Bacteria and fungi associated with L. spartum Loefl. ex L. were identified by 16S rRNA and fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-ITS2) gene sequencing. Our results showed an efficient uptake of As, Pb, and Zn and enhanced GSH (0.34 ± 0.03) and NPTs (528.7 ± 14.4 nmol g⁻¹ FW) concentrations in the highly polluted site. No significant variation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) was found. Among 29 bacterial isolates, potential bioremediation were Bacillus simplex and Bacillus atrophaeus. Thus, L. spartum Loefl. ex L. and its associated microbiota have the potential for phytoremediation applications.

Novelty statement: This work has been set in line with the investigation of the integrative biology of Lygeum spartum Loefl ex L. and the screening of its associated microbiome for potential phytoremediation applications. This work is the first work conducted in a cement plant vicinity investigating the associated fungi and bacteria of L. spartum Loefl. ex L. and been part of a sectorial research project since 2011, for assessing the impact of industrial pollution and recognizing the accumulation potential of plant species for further phyto-management applications.

Keywords:

• Cement plant
• perennial species
• fungi
• bacteria
• heavy metals and metalloids uptake

Acknowledgments

E. Aranda thanks the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and European Regional Development Fund (MINECO-ERDF) [RYC-2013-12481]. ITB gratefully acknowledges the fellowship provided by Agriculture Ministry and Scientific Research and Professor Ali Ferchichi. Finally, we thank Inmaculada Garcia Romera for her assistance in mycorrhizal staining.

Author contributions

All authors have read and agree to the published version of the manuscript. Ines Terwayet Bayouli, Elisabet Aranda and Concepcion Calvo: conceptualization and methodology. Ines Terwayet Bayouli and Tatiana Robledo Mahon: formal analysis and investigation. Ines Terwayet Bayouli: resources. Ines Terwayet Bayouli, Elisabet Aranda, and Tatiana Robledo Mahon: writing original draft paper. Elisabet Aranda, Erik Meers, Concepcion Calvo, and Tatiana Robledo Mahon: writing—review and editing. Elisabet Aranda, Concepcion Calvo, and Erik Meers: supervision. Elisabet Aranda and Concepcion Calvo: project administration. Elisabet Aranda, Concepcion Calvo, and Ines Terwayet Bayouli: funding acquisition.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was carried out thanks to the financial support from the Higher Ministry of Research and Agricultural Education and Arid Regions Institute, Tunisia, and the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and European Regional Development Fund (MINECO-ERDF), grant number RYC-2013-12481.