Plant growth promotion and enhanced uptake of Cd by combinatorial application of <i>Bacillus pumilus</i> and EDTA on <i>Zea mays</i> L.
Creators: name: Hayat, Kashif
name: Saiqa Menhas
name: Bundschuh, Jochen
name: Zhou, Pei
name: Niazi, Nabeel Khan
name: Amna
name: Hussain, Amjad
name: Sikandar Hayat
name: Hazrat Ali
name: Juncai Wang
name: Khan, Amir Abdullah
name: Ali, Amjad
name: Munis, Farooq Hussain
name: Chaudhary, Hassan Javed
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Biochemistry
subject: Microbiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Biotechnology
subject: 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: Ecology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Plant Biology
subject: 60506 Virology

description: In developing countries, Cd contamination is ubiquitous which limits agriculture productivity. The current study was designed to investigate the efficacy of plant—<i>Bacillus pumilus</i>—ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and plant-microbe-chelator (PMC) synergy for enhanced plant growth and Cd-uptake potential of <i>Zea mays</i> in industrially contaminated and cadmium (Cd) spiked soil. A pot experiment was conducted by growing <i>Z. mays</i> seedlings either inoculated with <i>B. pumilus</i> or un-inoculated along with the application of 5<b> </b>mM EDTA. Plants were exposed to two levels of Cd contamination for 45<b> </b>days. An increase in Cd uptake was observed in <i>Z. mays</i> inoculated with <i>B. pumilus</i> followed by EDTA treatment as compared to non-inoculated and un-treated ones. <i>Zea mays</i> showed improved values with PMC approach for different growth parameters including root length (41%), shoot length (40%), fresh weight (59%), dry weight (49%), chlorophyll contents (49%), and relative water contents (30%). Higher tolerance index (117%) was observed for plants grown in soil spiked with 300<b> </b>mg kg<sup>−1</sup> Cd (S2). PMC application markedly enhanced Cd uptake potential of <i>Z. mays</i> up to 12% and 68.8%, respectively, in S1 and S2 soil. While the PMC application increased Cd accumulation capacity of <i>Z. mays</i> by 71.2% and 52.5% in S1 and S2 soil. The calculated bioaccumulation and translocation factor revealed that <i>Z. mays</i> possess Cd uptake potential, and this ability can be significantly enhanced with PMC application. HighlightsFirst synergetic plant-microbe chelator (PMC) green technology for Cd-decontamination.Endophytic strain <i>Bacillus pumilus</i> 18a exhibited PGP traits.<i>B. pumilus</i>-EDTA complex improved plant biomass, tolerance index and phytoextraction efficiency.<i>Zea mays</i> L. act as Cd-accumulator under aged and spiked Cd contaminated soil.More Cd2+ retention in root than shoot was observed. First synergetic plant-microbe chelator (PMC) green technology for Cd-decontamination. Endophytic strain <i>Bacillus pumilus</i> 18a exhibited PGP traits. <i>B. pumilus</i>-EDTA complex improved plant biomass, tolerance index and phytoextraction efficiency. <i>Zea mays</i> L. act as Cd-accumulator under aged and spiked Cd contaminated soil. More Cd2+ retention in root than shoot was observed.