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Lead-Tolerant <i>Bacillus</i> Strains Promote Growth and Antioxidant Activities of Spinach (<i>Spinacia oleracea</i>) Treated with Sewage Water
oleh: Najm-ul-Seher, Maqshoof Ahmad, Iqra Ahmad, Farheen Nazli, Muhammad Zahid Mumtaz, Muhammad Latif, Mobarak S. Al-Mosallam, Fahad S. Alotaibi, Ahmed Z. Dewidar, Mohamed A. Mattar, Ahmed A. El-Shafei
Format: | Article |
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Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2021-12-01 |
Deskripsi
Irrigation with sewage-contaminated water poses a serious threat to food security, particularly in developing countries. Heavy metal tolerant bacteria are sustainable alternatives for the removal of wastewater contaminants. In the present study, four lead (Pb)-tolerant strains <i>viz</i>. <i>Bacillus megaterium</i> (N8), <i>Bacillus safensis</i> (N11), Bacillus sp. (N18), and <i>Bacillus megaterium</i> (N29) were inoculated in spinach and grown in sewage water treated earthen pots separately and in combination with canal water. Results showed that Pb-tolerant strains significantly improved plant growth and antioxidant activities in spinach and reduces metal concentration in roots and leaves of spinach plants irrigated with treated wastewater. Strain <i>Bacillus</i> sp. (N18) followed by <i>B. safensis</i> (N11) caused the maximum increase in shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, and leaf area compared to the uninoculated control of sewage water treated plants. These strains also improved antioxidant enzymatic activity including catalase, guaiacol peroxidase dismutase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidases activities compared to the uninoculated control under sewage water conditions. Strain <i>Bacillus</i> sp. (N18) followed by <i>B. safensis</i> (N11) showed the highest reduction in nickel, cadmium, chromium, and Pb contents in roots and leaves of spinach compared to the uninoculated control plants treated with the sewage water. Such potential Pb-tolerant <i>Bacillus</i> strains could be recommended for the growth promotion of spinach after extensive evaluation under field conditions contaminated with wastewater.