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Microbially Mediated Transformations of Heavy Metals in Rhizosphere

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Toxicity of Heavy Metals to Legumes and Bioremediation

Abstract

A complex interaction occurring between various plants and rhizosphere microorganisms governs the physicochemical and biotic characteristics of soils. And hence, the composition and functional properties of agronomic soils are often significantly different from those of bulk soil. Presence of heavy metals in soil resulting from the natural processes or introduced through anthropogenic activities affects growth and activity of plants and microbes. Therefore, the selection of microbial strains resistant to heavy metals and plants capable of accumulating excessive concentration of metals often called hyperaccumulating plants becomes important in remediation technologies. Beneficial soil microorganisms, both free living and symbionts, can stimulate plant growth, ease toxicity, and enhance accumulation of metals in plants. Amendment of soil properties by enrichment with organic matter (biosolid, compost) and cultivation of plant species inoculated with metal-resistant microbes are likely to improve efficiency of phytoremediation and reduce environmental risks associated with heavy metal contamination. This chapter presents plant–microbe interactions and the mechanisms involved in the mobilization, transfer, and stabilization of metals in soil by rhizosphere microbiota.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by Grant No. N N305 336334 (2008–2011) from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska, 19 Akademicka St., 20-033, Lublin, Poland

    Ewa Kurek & Małgorzata Majewska

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  1. Ewa Kurek
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  2. Małgorzata Majewska
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Correspondence to Ewa Kurek .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fac. Agricultural Sciences, Dept. Agricultural Microbiology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Almas Zaidi

  2. , Department of Biological Sciences, Crescent University, College of Natural, Abeokuta, Ogun, Nigeria

    Parvaze Ahmad Wani

  3. Fac. Agricultural Sciences, Dept. Agricultural Microbiology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Mohammad Saghir Khan

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Kurek, E., Majewska, M. (2012). Microbially Mediated Transformations of Heavy Metals in Rhizosphere. In: Zaidi, A., Wani, P., Khan, M. (eds) Toxicity of Heavy Metals to Legumes and Bioremediation. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0730-0_8

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