Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is highly toxic metal for plant metabolic processes even in low concentration due to its longer half-life and non-biodegradable nature. The current study was designed to assess the bioremediation potential of a Cd-tolerant phytobeneficial bacterial strain Bacillus sp. SDA-4, isolated, characterized and identified from Chakera wastewater reservoir, Faisalabad, Pakistan, together with spinach (as a test plant) under different Cd regimes. Spinach plants were grown with and without Bacillus sp. SDA-4 inoculation in pots filled with 0, 5 or 10 mg kg−1 CdCl2-spiked soil. Without Bacillus sp. SDA-4 inoculation, spinach plants exhibited reduction in biomass accumulation, antioxidative enzymes and nutrient retention. However, plants inoculated with Bacillus sp. SDA-4 revealed significantly augmented growth, biomass accumulation and efficiency of antioxidative machinery with concomitant reduction in proline and MDA contents under Cd stress. Furthermore, application of Bacillus sp. SDA-4 assisted the Cd-stressed plants to sustain optimal levels of essential nutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg). It was inferred that the characterized Cd-tolerant PGPR strain, Bacillus sp. SDA-4 has a potential to reduce Cd uptake and lipid peroxidation which in turn maintained the optimum balance of nutrients and augmented the growth of Cd-stressed spinach. Analysis of bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) revealed that Bacillus sp. SDA-4 inoculation with spinach sequestered Cd in rhizospheric zone. Research outcomes are important for understanding morpho-physio-biochemical attributes of spinach-Bacillus sp. SDA-4 synergy which might provide efficient strategies to decrease Cd retention in edible plants and/or bioremediation of Cd polluted soil colloids.
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We gratefully acknowledge the provision of funds by Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan (Grant No: 20-4243/NRPU/R&D/HEC/14/885). The results presented in this paper are the part of MPhil research work of Ms. Sadia Mujtaba.
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MTJ, MS and MSA, planning of study; KT and SM, experimental work; SKT and MHS, statistical analysis and critically review; HJC and SM, data discussion. All the authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
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Shahid, M., Javed, M.T., Tanwir, K. et al. Plant growth-promoting Bacillus sp. strain SDA-4 confers Cd tolerance by physio-biochemical improvements, better nutrient acquisition and diminished Cd uptake in Spinacia oleracea L.. Physiol Mol Biol Plants 26, 2417–2433 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-020-00900-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-020-00900-4