Catecholate-siderophore produced by As-resistant bacterium effectively dissolved FeAsO4 and promoted Pteris vittata growth.

The impact of siderophore produced by arsenic-resistant bacterium Pseudomonas PG12 on FeAsO4 dissolution and plant growth were examined. Arsenic-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata was grown for 7 d in 0.2-strength Fe-free Hoagland solution containing FeAsO4 mineral and PG12-siderophore or fungal-siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFOB). Standard siderophore assays indicated that PG12-siderophore was catecholate-type. PG12-siderophore was more effective in promoting FeAsO4 dissolution, and Fe and As plant uptake than DFOB. Media soluble Fe and As in PG12 treatment were 34.6 and 3.07 µM, 1.6- and 1.4-fold of that in DFOB. Plant Fe content increased from 2.93 to 6.24 g kg(-1) in the roots and As content increased from 14.3 to 78.5 mg kg(-1) in the fronds. Besides, P. vittata in PG12 treatment showed 2.6-times greater biomass than DFOB. While P. vittata fronds in PG12 treatment were dominated by AsIII, those in DFOB treatment were dominated by AsV (61-77%). This study showed that siderophore-producing arsenic-resistant rhizobacteria may have potential in enhancing phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soils.

Phosphorus solubilization and plant growth enhancement by arsenic-resistant bacteria.

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient, which is limited in most soils. The P solubilization and growth enhancement ability of seven arsenic-resistant bacteria (ARB), which were isolated from arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata, was investigated. Siderophore-producing ARB (PG4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12 and 16) were effective in solubilizing P from inorganic minerals FePO4 and phosphate rock, and organic phytate. To reduce bacterial P uptake we used filter-sterilized Hoagland medium containing siderophores or phytase produced by PG12 or PG6 to grow tomato plants supplied with FePO4 or phytate. To confirm that siderophores were responsible for P release, we compared the mutants of siderophore-producing bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf5 (PchA) impaired in siderophore production with the wild type and test strains. After 7d of growth, mutant PchA solubilized 10-times less P than strain PG12, which increased tomato root biomass by 1.7 times. For phytate solubilization by PG6, tomato shoot biomass increased by 44% than control bacterium Pseudomonas chlororaphis. P solubilization by ARB from P. vittata may be useful in enhancing plant growth and nutrition in other crop plants.

Bacterial ability in AsIII oxidation and AsV reduction: Relation to arsenic tolerance, P uptake, and siderophore production.

The relationship between bacterial ability in arsenic transformation, siderophore production, and P uptake was investigated using six arsenic-resistant bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of arsenic-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata. Bacterial strains of PG5 and 12 were better arsenite (AsIII) oxidizers (31-46 vs. 6.2-21% of 1 mM AsIII) whereas PG 6, 9, 10 and 16 were better arsenate (AsV) reducers (58-95 vs. 7.5-46% of 1 mM AsV). Increase in AsV concentration from 0 to 1 mM induced 3.0-8.4 times more P uptake by bacteria but increase in P concentration from 0.1 to 1 mM reduced AsV uptake by 17-71%, indicating that P and AsV were taken up by P transporters. Bacteria producing more siderophores (PG5 and 12; >73 µM equiv) showed greater AsIII oxidation and AsIII resistance than those producing less siderophore (PG 6, 9, 10 and 16; <23 µM equiv). This observation was further supported by results obtained from mutants of Pseudomonas fluorescens impaired in siderophore production, as they were 23-25% less tolerant to AsIII than the wild-type. Arsenic-resistant bacteria increased their arsenic tolerance by retaining less arsenic in cells via efficient AsIII oxidation and AsV reduction, which were impacted by P uptake and siderophore production.

Arsenic-resistant bacteria solubilized arsenic in the growth media and increased growth of arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L.

The role of arsenic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in arsenic solubilization from growth media and growth enhancement of arsenic-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L. was examined. Seven ARB (tolerant to 10 mM arsenate) were isolated from the P. vittata rhizosphere and identified by 16S rRNA sequencing as Pseudomonas sp., Comamonas sp. and Stenotrophomonas sp. During 7-d hydroponic experiments, these bacteria effectively solubilized arsenic from the growth media spiked with insoluble FeAsO4 and AlAsO4 minerals (from < 5 µg L⁻¹ to 5.04-7.37 mg L⁻¹ As) and enhanced plant arsenic uptake (from 18.1-21.9 to 35.3-236 mg kg⁻¹ As in the fronds). Production of (1) pyochelin-type siderophores by ARB (fluorescent under ultraviolet illumination and characterized with thin layer chromatography) and (2) root exudate (dissolved organic C) by P. vittata may be responsible for As solubilization. Increase in P. vittata root biomass from 1.5-2.2 to 3.4-4.2 g/plant dw by ARB and by arsenic was associated with arsenic-induced plant P uptake. Arsenic resistant bacteria may have potential to enhance phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soils by P. vittata.

Adsorption of rhodamine B on Rhizopus oryzae: role of functional groups and cell wall components.

The role of different functional groups (i.e. amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl as well as phosphate) and cell wall components (such as chitin, chitosan, glucan and phosphomannan) of Rhizopus oryzae on adsorption of rhodamine B is described. The functional groups were chemically modified to determine their contribution in the present adsorption process. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) study was used to characterize the modification of the functional groups due to chemical treatments. Carboxyl and amino groups were identified as most important moieties involved in the binding process. Different cell wall components were also isolated from the cell wall to explore their role involved in the binding process. Phosphomannan fraction adsorbed higher amounts of rhodamine B compared to the other cell wall components. Fluorescence microscopic images also supported the differential adsorption capacity of the various cell wall components.