Isolation and characterization of metal resistant plant growth promoting endophytic bacteria from Cynodon dactylon L. (Pers).
Shehzadi A, Rehman S, Malik S, Sadia J, Kalsoom H
Phytoremediation
Contaminated lots near urban industrial zones — the weedy patches most people walk past without a second look — may be quietly harboring soil-healing microbes that could one day help restore poisoned ground to something growable.
Researchers collected Bermuda grass — a tough, common lawn grass — from a pollution-heavy industrial area and found that its roots and leaves were home to helpful bacteria. These bacteria can survive high levels of toxic metals like lead and zinc, and they also release natural compounds that help seeds sprout faster and grow stronger. When tested on flax seeds, plants treated with the bacteria germinated much better than untreated ones, suggesting these microbes could be used to heal metal-contaminated soil naturally.
Key Findings
95.8% of the 24 isolated bacteria could dissolve phosphate (making it available to plants), and 100% produced growth-promoting hormones (IAA: 3.2–14.7 µg/mL) and ammonia
Three top isolates (CDL3, CDL2, CDR1) tolerated all four tested heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr) at the maximum tested concentration of 100 µg/mL
Flax seed germination improved from 66.6% (control) to 91.1% with the best bacterial isolate (CDR6), a statistically significant boost
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists found beneficial bacteria living inside Bermuda grass roots and leaves at a polluted industrial site — bacteria that can both tolerate heavy metals and help other plants grow. These microbes could be used as natural soil treatments to clean up contaminated land while supporting plant health.
Abstract Preview
Heavy metal contamination threatens soil health and ecosystem stability. Endophytic bacteria from metal-tolerant plants can enhance phytoremediation. In this study, twenty-four endophytic bacterial...
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Cynodon dactylon, commonly known as Bermuda grass or as couch grass in Australia and New Zealand, is a grass found worldwide. It is native to Europe, Africa, Australia, and much of Asia namely Nepal's hilly regions and has been introduced to the Americas.