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Phytoremediation of a multi contaminated soil: mercury and arsenic phytoextraction assisted by mobilizing agent and plant growth promoting bacteria

  • Phytoremediation of Polluted Soils: Recent Progress and Developments
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Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The possibility of using chemical and microbial additives to enhance the phytoextraction of mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) from a multi-contaminated soil could be very effective, leading to a significant saving in terms of time and costs of the reclamation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the addition of (i) thiosulfate and (ii) metal-tolerant bacteria isolated from the polluted soil having plant growth promotion (PGP) potential to perform As and Hg phytoextraction by Brassica juncea and Lupinus albus.

Materials and methods

A collection of 13 bacterial isolates able to tolerate As and Hg was obtained from the contaminated soil, identified by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and tested in vitro for PGP activities. The most promising strains were further tested in vivo for the evaluation of plant growth ability and rhizocompetence on model plants. Pot experiments were conducted in microcosms, with polluted soil vegetated with B. juncea and L. albus. Ammonium thiosulfate and potassium dihydrogen phosphate were used as mobilizing agents, together with a bacterial consortium composed by the most promising PGP isolates.

Results and discussion

Thirteen indigenous metal-tolerant bacterial strains were isolated, and their in vitro characterization highlighted their great potential in assisting the phytoremediation process; most of them tolerated both trace elements and showed, at the same time, multiple PGP traits. The results were confirmed in vivo on model plants and lead to the selection of the most promising PGP strains to be applied in microcosm-scale phytoextraction experiments. Thiosulfate addition significantly increased the mobilization of both elements, promoting bioavailability and phytoextraction. When a selected bacterial consortium was supplemented in addition to thiosulfate, the efficacy of the phytoaccumulation was increased up to 85 % for As and up to 45 % for Hg.

Conclusions

The use of the common fertilizer thiosulfate appeared to have great potential in phytoextraction practices since it was able to facilitate the uptake by plants of both Hg and As. Moreover, the application of a consortium of indigenous PGP bacteria (PGPB) produced a further positive effect on the plant biomass, supporting and enhancing the phytoextraction strategy, thus demonstrating their potential in a microbe-assisted phytoremediation intervention.

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Acknowledgments

The experimental work carried out at ISE-CNR was fully funded by Syndial s.p.a. ER was supported by Università degli Studi di Milano, DeFENS, the European Social Found, and Regione Lombardia (contract “Dote Ricerca”). RM was financially supported by the project BIOGESTECA no. 15083/RCC “Fondo per la Promozione di Accordi Istituzionali” (Regione Lombardia, Italy). We thank Francesco Rodriguez for the bioinformatic support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eni S.p.A, Renewable Energy and Environmental Laboratories, S. Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy

    Elisabetta Franchi & Paola Cosmina

  2. Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy

    Gloria Agazzi

  3. Institute of Ecosystem Study, National Council of Research, Pisa, Italy

    Francesca Pedron, Irene Rosellini, Meri Barbafieri & Gianniantonio Petruzzelli

  4. Department of Food, Environmental, and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy

    Eleonora Rolli, Ramona Marasco & Sara Borin

Authors
  1. Elisabetta Franchi
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  2. Eleonora Rolli
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  3. Ramona Marasco
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  4. Gloria Agazzi
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  5. Sara Borin
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  6. Paola Cosmina
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  7. Francesca Pedron
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  8. Irene Rosellini
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  9. Meri Barbafieri
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  10. Gianniantonio Petruzzelli
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Correspondence to Elisabetta Franchi.

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Franchi, E., Rolli, E., Marasco, R. et al. Phytoremediation of a multi contaminated soil: mercury and arsenic phytoextraction assisted by mobilizing agent and plant growth promoting bacteria. J Soils Sediments 17, 1224–1236 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1346-5

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