Plant–bacteria partnerships for the remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2013-01, Vol.90 (4), p.1317-1332
• Main Authors: Khan, Sumia, Afzal, Muhammad, Iqbal, Samina, Khan, Qaiser M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; bacteria; Bacteria - growth & development; Bacteria - metabolism; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; biofuels; Biological and medical sciences; bioremediation; Biotechnology; carbon; crop yield; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; endophytes; Endophytic bacteria; Environment and pollution; evapotranspiration; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genes; host plants; Hydrocarbons; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; mineralization; Miscellaneous; Phytoremediation; phytotoxicity; plant growth; Plant growth promotion; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Plants - metabolism; Plants - microbiology; pollutants; polluted soils; Pollution; Rhizobacteria; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil Microbiology; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; soil pollution; soil remediation; stress response; Symbiosis; water pollution
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.09.045

► Plant–bacteria partnerships is an emerging pollutant remediation approach. ► Plant associated rhizo- and endophytic bacteria can enhance pollutant degradation. ► Plant stimulates the bacteria to degrade organic contaminants in the soil. ► Plant associated-bacteria can reduce phytotoxicity and evapotranspiration of hydrocarbons. Plant–bacteria partnerships have been extensively studied and applied to improve crop yield. In addition to their application in agriculture, a promising field to exploit plant–bacteria partnerships is the remediation of soil and water polluted with hydrocarbons. Application of effective plant–bacteria partnerships for the remediation of hydrocarbons depend mainly on the presence and metabolic activities of plant associated rhizo- and endophytic bacteria possessing specific genes required for the degradation of hydrocarbon pollutants. Plants and their associated bacteria interact with each other whereby plant supplies the bacteria with a special carbon source that stimulates the bacteria to degrade organic contaminants in the soil. In return, plant associated-bacteria can support their host plant to overcome contaminated-induced stress responses, and improve plant growth and development. In addition, plants further get benefits from their associated-bacteria possessing hydrocarbon-degradation potential, leading to enhanced hydrocarbon mineralization and lowering of both phytotoxicity and evapotranspiration of volatile hydrocarbons. A better understanding of plant–bacteria partnerships could be exploited to enhance the remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils in conjunction with sustainable production of non-food crops for biomass and biofuel production.