Phytomicrobiome of Helianthus annuus: in vitro assessment of plant growth-promoting traits and heavy metal tolerance.
Kayali A, Barthelomai IS, Bharathi S S, Kingsly Jesurajan GP, Najjar MA
Phytoremediation
Sunflowers planted to clean up a contaminated lot already carry hidden bacterial allies inside their stems and roots that help them survive toxic metals — and scientists just identified which ones are most useful for turbocharging that cleanup.
Inside sunflower plants growing in poisoned soil, scientists found bacteria that live within the plant's own tissues. These bacteria help the plant grow better by making nutrients available and producing natural growth boosters — and they can handle toxic metals like lead and zinc without dying. Figuring out which bacteria do this best is a key step toward using sunflowers to clean up contaminated land more reliably and cheaply.
Key Findings
12 bacteria were isolated from sunflower roots, stems, and leaves grown in soil contaminated with lead, zinc, and chromium; 5 of the 12 tested positive for every plant growth-promoting trait evaluated.
Molecular identification revealed 8 Bacillus species among the 12 isolates, alongside Acinetobacter spp., Providencia vermicola, and Enterobacter cloacae.
Beneficial traits confirmed in vitro included nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, auxin (growth hormone) production, hydrogen cyanide secretion, and tolerance to all three heavy metals tested.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Researchers discovered 12 strains of bacteria living inside sunflower plants growing in lead-, zinc-, and chromium-contaminated soil. Five of these strains showed the full suite of plant growth-promoting abilities alongside heavy metal tolerance, suggesting they could be harnessed to help plants clean up polluted land more effectively.
Abstract Preview
Endophytic bacteria are usually found within plant tissues. They enhance plant growth, with potential agricultural and environmental applications. They might enhance the plant tolerance to abiotic ...
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