Enhancing systematic tolerance in Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.) through amplified alkB gene expression and bacterial-driven hydrocarbon degradation

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2024-03, Vol.31 (13), p.19871-19885
• Main Authors: Iqbal, Sehrish, Ummara, Ume, Noreen, Sibgha, Akhter, Muhammad Salim, Jaleel, Farrukh, Jabeen, Shazia, Naz, Nargis, Wahid, Abdul, Alotaibi, Modhi O., Nour, Mudawi M., Al-Qthanin, Rahmah N., Aqeel, Muhammad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkanes; AlkB gene; Aquatic Pollution; Arthrobacter; Ascorbic acid; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bacteria; Biochemical analysis; Biodegradation; Catalase; Cynodon dactylon; Degradation; Dry weight; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Gene expression; Glutathione; Glutathione reductase; Grasses; Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria; Hydrocarbons; Hydrogen peroxide; Inoculation; L-Ascorbate peroxidase; Microorganisms; Peroxidase; Petroleum; Petroleum hydrocarbons; Plant growth; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Reductases; Research Article; Rhizosphere; Shoots; Soil contamination; Soil microorganisms; Soil pollution; Superoxide dismutase; Tocopherols; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32326-w

This study aimed to access the impact of soil polluted with petroleum (5, 10 g petroleum kg −1 soil) on Bermuda grass ( Cynodon dactylon L.) with and without applied bacterial inoculants ( Arthrobacter oxydans ITRH49 and Pseudomonas sp. MixRI75). Both soil and seed were given bacterial inoculation. The evaluated morphological parameters of Bermuda grass were fresh and dry weight. The results demonstrated that applied bacterial inoculants enhanced 5.4%, 20%, 28% and 6.4%, 21%, and 29% shoot and root fresh/dry weights in Bermuda grass under controlled environment. The biochemical analysis of shoot and root was affected deleteriously by the 10 g petroleum kg −1 soil pollution. Microbial inoculants enhanced the activities of enzymatic (catalase, peroxidase, glutathione reductase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase) and non-enzymatic (ɑ-tocopherols, proline, reduced glutathione, ascorbic acid) antioxidant to mitigate the toxic effects of ROS (H 2 O 2 ) under hydrocarbon stressed condition. The maximum hydrocarbon degradation (75%) was recorded by Bermuda grass at 5 g petroleum kg −1 soil contamination. Moreover, bacterial persistence and alkane hydroxylase gene ( alkB ) abundance and expression were observed more in the root interior than in the rhizosphere and shoot interior of Bermuda grass. Subsequently, the microbe used a biological tool to propose that the application of plant growth-promoting bacteria would be the most favorable choice in petroleum hydrocarbon polluted soil to conquer the abiotic stress in plants and the effective removal of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in polluted soil.