Improving performance of Cytisus striatus on substrates contaminated with hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers using bacterial inoculants: developing a phytoremediation strategy

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 362; no. 1/2; pp. 247 - 260
• Main Authors: Becerra-Castro, C., Prieto-Fernández, Á., Kidd, P. S., Weyens, N., Rodríguez-Garrido, B., Touceda-González, M., Acea, M. J., Vangronsveld, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-01-2013; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bioremediation; Candidate species; Ecology; Enzymes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Hexachlorocyclohexane; Inoculation; Isomers; Life Sciences; Organic chemistry; Organic soils; Persistent organic pollutants; Phytoremediation; Phytotoxicity; Plant biology; Plant growth; Plant Physiology; Plant roots; Plant Sciences; Plant tissues; Plants; Regular Article; Rhodococcus erythropolis; Soil contamination; Soil microorganisms; Soil pollution; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Sphingomonas; Plant-associated microorganisms; Persistent organic pollutant (POP); Hexachlorocyclohexane; Phytostimulation; Rhizoremediation; Lindane; Insecticide; Biological method; Persistent organic pollutant; Inoculation; Organochlorine compounds; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Bacteria; Bioremediation; Inoculant; Halogen Organic compounds; Pesticides; Woody plant; HCH; Contamination; Phytoremediation; Substrate; Rhizosphere; Leguminosae; Cytisus; Prokaryote; Strategy; Spermatophyta; Microorganism; Performance; Soil plant relation
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-012-1276-6

Background and aims Microbe-assisted phytoremediation is particularly effective for organic pollutants. The leguminous shrub Cytisus striatus (Hill) Rothm. has been proposed as a candidate species for the rhizoremediation of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)-contaminated sites. The aim of this study was to improve the performance of this species using microbial inoculants. Methods C. striatus was grown in substrates contaminated with 0, 10 and 35 mg HCH kg⁻¹ for 8 weeks. Plants were either not inoculated (NI), or inoculated with the endophyte Rhodococcus erythropolis ET54b and the HCH-degrader Sphingomonas sp. D4 (isolated from a HCH-contaminated soil) on their own or in combination (ET, D4 and ETD4). Results Inoculation with both bacterial strains (ETD4) resulted in decreased HCH phytotoxicity and improved plant growth. HCH-exposed plants inoculated with ETD4 presented a 120-160 % increase in root, and 140-160 % increase in shoot biomass, and led to a decrease in the activities of enzymes involved in anti-oxidative defence. APOD activity was reduced by up to 37 % in shoot tissues and 25 % in root tissues, and corresponding activities of SOD were reduced by up to 35 % and 30 %. HCH dissipation was enhanced in the presence of C. striatus but no significant effect of microbial inoculants was observed. Conclusions Inoculating C. striatus with this combination of bacterial strains is a promising approach for the remediation of HCH-contaminated sites.