AUTHOR=Guarino Carmine , Paura Bruno , Sciarrillo Rosaria 

TITLE=Enhancing Phytoextraction of HMs at Real Scale, by Combining Salicaceae Trees With Microbial Consortia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Environmental Science

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-science/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2018.00137

DOI=10.3389/fenvs.2018.00137

ISSN=2296-665X

ABSTRACT=<p>We applied an integrated phytoremediation system by inoculation of rhizosphere microbes on an area of 2,000 m<sup>2</sup> that was contaminated by heavy metals. Hybrid poplar (<italic>Populus deltoids</italic> × <italic>Populus nigra</italic>) and willow (<italic>Salix purpurea</italic> subsp. <italic>lambertiana</italic>) were planted on four parcels of 500 m<sup>2</sup>. Of these, two parcels were inoculated with an autochthonous consortium specially selected and the other two were not inoculated. The analyses were carried out on plant and soil samples collected at different times: month 0 (T<sub>0</sub>), 12 (T<sub>1</sub>), 24 (T<sub>2</sub>), and 36 (T<sub>f</sub>). Total concentrations of HMs in the roots of <italic>Populus</italic> and <italic>Salix</italic> showed significant increase in the plants with rhizosphere microflora consortium. The plants treated with the consortium have an increased enzymatic activity of antioxidants and of stress markers. All enzymes showed an important contribution in enzymatic thiol-dependent ROS scavening mechanisms, through its over-expression at time T<sub>1</sub> and T<sub>2</sub> and a consequent stabilization at T<sub>f</sub> which results in adaptive mechanisms. The plant-fungi-bacterium system was a valid candidate for the implementation of phytoremediation systems in the field, since the plants showed a greater capacity for adaptation and accumulation.</p>