Plant-bacteria partnerships for the remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils.
Plant-bacteria partnerships have been extensively studied and applied to improve crop yield. In addition to their application in agriculture, a promising field to exploit plant-bacteria partnerships is the remediation of soil and water polluted with hydrocarbons. Application of effective plant-bacteria partnerships for the remediation of hydrocarbons depend mainly on the presence and metabolic activities of plant associated rhizo- and endophytic bacteria possessing specific genes required for the degradation of hydrocarbon pollutants. Plants and their associated bacteria interact with each other whereby plant supplies the bacteria with a special carbon source that stimulates the bacteria to degrade organic contaminants in the soil. In return, plant associated-bacteria can support their host plant to overcome contaminated-induced stress responses, and improve plant growth and development. In addition, plants further get benefits from their associated-bacteria possessing hydrocarbon-degradation potential, leading to enhanced hydrocarbon mineralization and lowering of both phytotoxicity and evapotranspiration of volatile hydrocarbons. A better understanding of plant-bacteria partnerships could be exploited to enhance the remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils in conjunction with sustainable production of non-food crops for biomass and biofuel production.
National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Sumia
S
Khan
Muhammad
M
Afzal
Samina
S
Iqbal
Qaiser M
QM
Khan
D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013559:Symbiosis
D012989:Soil Pollutants