Metabolic insights into how multifunctional microbial consortium enhances atrazine removal and phosphorus uptake at low temperature

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2024-01, Vol.461, p.132539-132539, Article 132539
• Main Authors: Han, Siyue, Tao, Yue, Zhao, Longwei, Cui, Yunhe, Zhang, Ying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atrazine degradation; Cold resistance; Cross-feeding; Energy metabolic; Soybean seedlings
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132539

Agricultural soils in the black soil region of northeast China often face negative stress due to low temperatures, pesticide contamination, and inadequate nutrient supply. In this study, a new cold-tolerant strain of Peribacillus simplex C1 (C1) was selectively isolated from atrazine contaminated soil. The artificially constructed microbial consortium (CPD) [C1, phosphorus-solubilizing bacterium Enterobacter sp. P1, and atrazine-degrading bacterium Acinetobacter lwoffii DNS32] demonstrated the most effective performance in enhancing atrazine degradation and phosphorus-solubilizing capacity when the initial inoculation ratio of 5:1:2 at 15 °C. CPD enhanced energy-related metabolic pathways and increased choline production to regulate bacterial adaptation to temperature decrease. Additionally, the strains could selectively utilize carbon sources (low molecular weight organic acids) or nitrogen sources (some metabolites of atrazine) provided by each other to enhance growth. Furthermore, strain C1 enhanced membrane fluidity through increased expression of the unsaturated fatty acids. Pot experiments demonstrated that CPD assisted soybean seedlings in resisting dual stresses of low temperature and atrazine contamination by inducing the expression of genes related to photosynthesis, membrane permeability, phosphorus response, and cold tolerance. [Display omitted] •A new cold-tolerant strain Peribacillus simplex C1 was isolated from atrazine contaminated soil.•Artificially constructed CPD improves atrazine removal and phosphorus uptake at 15 °C.•CPD superior performance mainly relies on enhancing cryoprotectants and nutrient exchange.•CPD significantly improved the resistance of soybean to cold and atrazine contamination.