Responses of three grass species to creosote during phytoremediation.
Phytoremediation of creosote-contaminated soil was monitored in the presence of Tall fescue, Kentucky blue grass, or Wild rye. For all three grass species, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) were evaluated for plant growth promotion and protection of plants from contaminant toxicity. A number of parameters were monitored including plant tissue water content, root growth, plant chlorophyll content and the chlorophyll a/b ratio. The observed physiological data indicate that some plants mitigated the toxic effects of contaminants. In addition, in agreement with our previous experiments reported in the accompanying paper (Huang, X.-D., El-Alawi, Y., Penrose, D.M., Glick, B.R., Greenberg, B.M., 2004. A multi-process phytoremediation system for removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from contaminated soil. Environ. Poll. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2003.09.031), PGPR were able to greatly enhance phytoremediation. PGPR accelerated plant growth, especially roots, in heavily contaminated soils, diminishing the toxic effects of contaminants to plants. Thus, the increased root biomass in PGPR-treated plants led to more effective remediation.
Huang
Xiao-Dong
XD
Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1.
El-Alawi
Yousef
Y
Penrose
Donna M
DM
Glick
Bernard R
BR
Greenberg
Bruce M
BM
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D003407:Creosote / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D006109:Poaceae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D013045:Species Specificity
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002734:Chlorophyll; D003407:Creosote