2025/05/02 by Rossella Labarile, Pietro Cotugno, Valeria Ancona +2 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Heavy metals in environment #Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics #Soil and Environmental Studies
paper · doi:10.1016/j.cpb.2025.100486
openalex publication_date 2025/05/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
The study investigated heavy metals (HMs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in a soil from the industrialized of Taranto, Italy, identifying 16 HMs and 31 PCB congeners. To improve soil quality, plant-assisted bioremediation and beneficial microorganisms were used. The model plant Arabidopsis thaliana was negatively impacted by contamination, but the addition of Rhodobacter ( R. ) sphaeroides , a growth-promoting photosynthetic bacterium, mitigated its effects. The bacterium overstimulated the expression of the heavy metal-associated proteins, particularly AtHMP23 . It also reduced chlorophyll degradation by downregulating the Mg-dechelatase gene, which is otherwiseupregulated under pollution stress, showing improved plant health with reduced yellowing of leaves. These findings highlight the potential of R. sphaeroides in supporting plant-assisted bioremediation, making its use a promising strategy for restoring multi-contaminated soils and improving plant resilience to pollutants. • Heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls were assessed in soil from Taranto, Italy • The purple non sulphur bacterium R. sphaeroides boosts the growth of A. thaliana • Heavy metals decrease by coupling plant assisted bioremediation with R. sphaeroides • R. sphaeroides reduces the chlorophyll degradation in A. thaliana leaves