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International Journal of Phytoremediation Volume 22, 2020 - Issue 13
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Articles

Plant growth promotion and enhanced uptake of Cd by combinatorial application of Bacillus pumilus and EDTA on Zea mays L.

Kashif HayatKey Laboratory of Urban Agriculture, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; ;Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan;
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Saiqa MenhasKey Laboratory of Urban Agriculture, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; ;Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan;
,
Jochen BundschuhFaculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia; ;School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia;
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Pei ZhouKey Laboratory of Urban Agriculture, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; Correspondence[email protected]
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Nabeel Khan NiaziSchool of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia; ;Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan; ORCID Iconhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-4459-1124
ORCID Icon,
AmnaFaculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan;
,
Amjad HussainFaculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan; ;National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China;
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Sikandar HayatCollege of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China;
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Hazrat AliGreen & Environmental Chemistry, Ecotoxicology and Ecology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan;
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Juncai WangKey Laboratory of Urban Agriculture, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China;
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Amir Abdullah KhanFaculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan; ;Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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Amjad AliCollege of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China;
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Farooq Hussain MunisFaculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan;
&
Hassan Javed ChaudharyFaculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan; Correspondence[email protected]
 show all
Pages 1372-1384 | Published online: 24 Jun 2020
 
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Abstract

In developing countries, Cd contamination is ubiquitous which limits agriculture productivity. The current study was designed to investigate the efficacy of plant—Bacillus pumilus—ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and plant-microbe-chelator (PMC) synergy for enhanced plant growth and Cd-uptake potential of Zea mays in industrially contaminated and cadmium (Cd) spiked soil. A pot experiment was conducted by growing Z. mays seedlings either inoculated with B. pumilus or un-inoculated along with the application of 5 mM EDTA. Plants were exposed to two levels of Cd contamination for 45 days. An increase in Cd uptake was observed in Z. mays inoculated with B. pumilus followed by EDTA treatment as compared to non-inoculated and un-treated ones. Zea mays showed improved values with PMC approach for different growth parameters including root length (41%), shoot length (40%), fresh weight (59%), dry weight (49%), chlorophyll contents (49%), and relative water contents (30%). Higher tolerance index (117%) was observed for plants grown in soil spiked with 300 mg kg−1 Cd (S2). PMC application markedly enhanced Cd uptake potential of Z. mays up to 12% and 68.8%, respectively, in S1 and S2 soil. While the PMC application increased Cd accumulation capacity of Z. mays by 71.2% and 52.5% in S1 and S2 soil. The calculated bioaccumulation and translocation factor revealed that Z. mays possess Cd uptake potential, and this ability can be significantly enhanced with PMC application.

Graphical Abstract

    Highlights

  • First synergetic plant-microbe chelator (PMC) green technology for Cd-decontamination.

  • Endophytic strain Bacillus pumilus 18a exhibited PGP traits.

  • B. pumilus-EDTA complex improved plant biomass, tolerance index and phytoextraction efficiency.

  • Zea mays L. act as Cd-accumulator under aged and spiked Cd contaminated soil.

  • More Cd2+ retention in root than shoot was observed.

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