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Improvement of cadmium phytoremediation after soil inoculation with a cadmium-resistant Micrococcus sp.

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Abstract

Cadmium-resistant Micrococcus sp. TISTR2221, a plant growth-promoting bacterium, has stimulatory effects on the root lengths of Zea mays L. seedlings under toxic cadmium conditions compared to uninoculated seedlings. The performance of Micrococcus sp. TISTR2221 on promoting growth and cadmium accumulation in Z. mays L. was investigated in a pot experiment. The results indicated that Micrococcus sp. TISTR2221significantly promoted the root length, shoot length, and dry biomass of Z. mays L. transplanted in both uncontaminated and cadmium-contaminated soils. Micrococcus sp. TISTR2221 significantly increased cadmium accumulation in the roots and shoots of Z. mays L. compared to uninoculated plants. At the beginning of the planting period, cadmium accumulated mainly in the shoots. With a prolonged duration of cultivation, cadmium content increased in the roots. As expected, little cadmium was found in maize grains. Soil cadmium was significantly reduced with time, and the highest percentage of cadmium removal was found in the bacterial-inoculated Z. mays L. after transplantation for 6 weeks. We conclude that Micrococcus sp. TISTR2221 is a potent bioaugmenting agent, facilitating cadmium phytoextraction in Z. mays L.

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Acknowledgments

This research project was supported by the grant from Thailand Research Fund and Mahidol University (grant no. RSA5780026).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhonpathom, 73170, Thailand

    Chirawee Sangthong, Kunchaya Setkit & Benjaphorn Prapagdee

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  1. Chirawee Sangthong
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  2. Kunchaya Setkit
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  3. Benjaphorn Prapagdee
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Correspondence to Benjaphorn Prapagdee.

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Sangthong, C., Setkit, K. & Prapagdee, B. Improvement of cadmium phytoremediation after soil inoculation with a cadmium-resistant Micrococcus sp.. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 756–764 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5318-5

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