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Improvement in phytoremediation potential of Solanum nigrum under cadmium contamination through endophytic-assisted Serratia sp. RSC-14 inoculation

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Abstract

The growth of hyperaccumulator plants is often compromised by increased toxicity of metals like cadmium (Cd). However, extraction of such metals from the soil can be enhanced by endophytic microbial association. Present study was aimed to elucidate the potential of microbe-assisted Cd phytoextraction in hyperaccumulator Solanum nigrum plants and their interactions under varied Cd concentrations. An endophytic bacteria Serratia sp. RSC-14 was isolated from the roots of S. nigrum. In addition to Cd tolerance up to 4 mM, the RSC-14 exhibited phosphate solubilization and secreted plant growth-promoting phytohormones such as indole-3-acetic acid (54 μg/mL). S. nigrum plants were inoculated with RSC-14 and were grown in different concentrations of Cd (0, 10, and 30 mg Cd kg−1 sand). Results revealed that Cd treatment caused significant cessation in plant growth, biomass, and chlorophyll content, whereas significantly higher malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte production in leaves were observed in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, RSC-14 inoculation relived the toxic effects of Cd-induced stress by significantly increasing root/shoot growth, biomass production, and chlorophyll content and decreasing MDA and electrolytes contents. Ameliorative effects on host growth were also observed by the regulation of metal-induced oxidative stress enzymes such as catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenol peroxidase. Activities of these enzymes were significantly reduced in RSC-14 inoculated plants as compared to control plants under Cd treatments. The lower activities of stress responsive enzymes suggest modulation of Cd stress by RSC-14. The current findings support the beneficial uses of Serratia sp. RSC-14 in improving the phytoextraction abilities of S. nigrum plants in Cd contamination.

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Acknowledgments

This research was sponsored by Korea Ministry of Environment as the Eco-Innovation project.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Compliance with ethical standards

The present research did not involve human participants and/or animals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Applied Biosciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 702-701, Republic of Korea

    Abdur Rahim Khan, Ihsan Ullah, Gun-Seok Park, Muhammad Waqas, Sung-Jun Hong, Byung Kwon Jung, Yunyoung Kwak, In-Jung Lee & Jae-Ho Shin

  2. UoN Chair of Oman’s Medicinal Plants and Marine Natural Products, University of Nizwa, 616, Nizwa, Oman

    Abdul Latif Khan

  3. Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, The Agriculture University Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan

    Ihsan Ullah

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  1. Abdur Rahim Khan
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  2. Ihsan Ullah
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  3. Abdul Latif Khan
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  4. Gun-Seok Park
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  5. Muhammad Waqas
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  9. In-Jung Lee
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Correspondence to Jae-Ho Shin.

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Responsible editor: Elena Maestri

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Khan, A.R., Ullah, I., Khan, A.L. et al. Improvement in phytoremediation potential of Solanum nigrum under cadmium contamination through endophytic-assisted Serratia sp. RSC-14 inoculation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 14032–14042 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4647-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4647-8

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