PubMed · 2026-06-02
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.
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
