Abstract
Soil cadmium (Cd) contamination resulting from anthropogenic activity poses severe threats to food safety and human health. In this study, a pot experiment was performed to evaluate the possibility of using urease-producing bacterium UR21 and eggshell (ES) waste for improving the physiological characteristics and reducing Cd accumulation of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) plants. UR21 has siderophore and IAA production ability. The application of UR21 and ES individually or in combination could improve the root and shoot length, and fresh and dry weight of pakchoi plants under Cd stress. In Cd + ES + UR21–treated plants, the dry weight of shoot and root were increased by 61.54% and 72.73%, respectively. The chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid content were increased by 52.19%, 42.95%, and 95.56% in Cd + ES + UR21–treated plants. Meanwhile, the H2O2 and MDA content were decreased while the SOD and POD activity were increased, and an increase of soluble protein level in pakchoi plants was observed under Cd + ES + UR21 treatment. Importantly, eggshell and UR21 alone or in combination induced a decline of Cd content in pakchoi plants, especially that Cd + ES + UR21 treatment decreased Cd content in shoot and root by 26.96% and 42.91%, respectively. Meanwhile, the soil urease and sucrase activities were enhanced. Generally, the combined application of ureolytic bacteria UR21 and eggshell exhibited better effects than applied them individually in terms of alleviating Cd toxicity in pakchoi plants. Our findings may give a unique perspective for an eco-friendly and sustainable strategy to remediate heavy metal–polluted soils.
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The datasets used in the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41807123) and Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province (2020JQ-718 and 2019JQ-773).
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Ting Wei, Hong Li, and Li Hua performed the experiments, analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript. Noman Yashir analyzed data. Xian Li provided technical assistance. Honglei Jia, Xinhao Ren, and Jing Yang participated in the critical reading and discussion of the manuscript.
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Highlights
• Bacteria UR21 and eggshell application enhanced photosynthetic pigment content of pakchoi plants under Cd stress
• UR21 and eggshell application alleviated Cd-induced growth inhibition and oxidative stress
• UR21 and eggshell application increased the soluble sugar and soluble protein content of pakchoi plants
• UR21 and eggshell application decreased Cd content of pakchoi plants
• UR21 and eggshell application increased the soil urease and sucrase activity.
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Wei, T., Li, H., Yashir, N. et al. Effects of urease-producing bacteria and eggshell on physiological characteristics and Cd accumulation of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) plants. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 63886–63897 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20344-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20344-5