Diazotrophs-assisted phytoremediation of heavy metals: a novel approach

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2015-02, Vol.22 (4), p.2505-2514
• Main Authors: Ullah, Abid, Mushtaq, Hafsa, Ali, Hazrat, Munis, Muhammad Farooq Hussain, Javed, Muhammad Tariq, Chaudhary, Hassan Javed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase; Animals; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bacteria; Bacteria - metabolism; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biomass; Carbon-Carbon Lyases; Chelation; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Enumeration; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Flowers & plants; Hazardous materials; Heavy metals; human health; Humans; Leaching; Leaves; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Metals, Heavy - chemistry; Metals, Heavy - metabolism; Methylation; Microorganisms; microsymbionts; Nitrogen; Nitrogen Fixation; nitrogen-fixing bacteria; Phytoremediation; Plant biomass; Plant growth; plant hormones; Plants - metabolism; Plants - microbiology; Pollutants; polluted soils; Redox reactions; Review Article; Rhizosphere microorganisms; Siderophores; Soil contamination; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; Soil pollution; Solubilization; Toxicity; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3699-5

Heavy metals, which have severe toxic effects on plants, animals, and human health, are serious pollutants of the modern world. Remediation of heavy metal pollution is utmost necessary. Among different approaches used for such remediation, phytoremediation is an emerging technology. Research is in progress to enhance the efficiency of this plant-based technology. In this regard, the role of rhizospheric and symbiotic microorganisms is important. It was assessed by enumeration of data from the current studies that efficiency of phytoremediation can be enhanced by assisting with diazotrophs. These bacteria are very beneficial because they bring metals to more bioavailable form by the processes of methylation, chelation, leaching, and redox reactions and the production of siderophores. Diazotrophs also posses growth-promoting traits including nitrogen fixation, phosphorous solubilization, phytohormones synthesis, siderophore production, and synthesis of ACC-deaminase which may facilitate plant growth and increase plant biomass, in turn facilitating phytoremediation technology. Thus, the aim of this review is to highlight the potential of diazotrophs in assisting phytoremediation of heavy metals in contaminated soils. The novel current assessment of literature suggests the winning combination of diazotroph with phytoremediation technology.