Streptomyces pactum and sulfur mediated the rhizosphere microhabitats of potherb mustard after a phytoextraction trial | JoVE Visualize

Streptomyces pactum and sulfur mediated the rhizosphere microhabitats of potherb mustard after a phytoextraction trial

Di Guo¹, Amjad Ali², Zengqiang Zhang³

¹College of Natural Resources & Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710129, China.

Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)|April 2, 2021

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Streptomyces pactum (Act12) inoculation and sulfur application enhance phytoremediation of toxic metals in soil. Act12 boosts soil enzyme activity and alters microbial communities, improving plant growth and soil health for sustainable land use.

Area of Science:

Environmental Microbiology
Bioremediation
Soil Science

Background:

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) like cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) contaminate soils, posing risks to ecosystems and human health.
Phytoextraction using plants and microbial inoculants is a promising strategy for remediating contaminated soils.
Understanding the interplay between plant-microbe-soil systems is crucial for optimizing phytoremediation efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the efficacy of Streptomyces pactum (Act12) and sulfur in the phytoextraction of Cd and Zn by potherb mustard (Brassica juncea).
To investigate the impact of Act12 and sulfur on soil chemical properties and microbial community composition.
To assess the overall soil-plant ecosystem feedback under different treatment conditions.

Main Methods:

Phytoextraction experiment using potherb mustard inoculated with Streptomyces pactum (Act12) alone or with sulfur.
Analysis of metal uptake in plant tissues and biomass production.
Biochemical assays of soil enzyme activities (urease, dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase) and soil organic acid profiling.
High-throughput sequencing for bacterial community analysis and redundancy analysis (RDA) to determine drivers of microbial activity.

Main Results:

Act12 inoculation alone resulted in higher metal uptake than combined treatments due to increased plant biomass.
Act12 significantly enhanced soil urease and dehydrogenase activities while reducing alkaline phosphatase.
Sulfur application positively influenced soil organic acid production and increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes.
Soil chemical properties were identified as key drivers of microbial activities and plant growth.

Conclusions:

Streptomyces pactum (Act12) inoculation, particularly with sulfur, can enhance the phytoremediation of PTE-contaminated soils.
The combined application influences soil biochemical properties and microbial community structure, contributing to improved soil health.
This approach offers potential for sustainable land utilization and crop production in contaminated areas.