AUTHOR=Barra Caracciolo Anna , Grenni Paola , Garbini Gian Luigi , Rolando Ludovica , Campanale Claudia , Aimola Giorgia , Fernandez-Lopez Manuel , Fernandez-Gonzalez Antonio José , Villadas Pablo José , Ancona Valeria 

TITLE=Characterization of the Belowground Microbial Community in a Poplar-Phytoremediation Strategy of a Multi-Contaminated Soil

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.02073

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2020.02073

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Due to their widespread use in industrial applications in recent decades, Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals (HMs) are the most common soil contaminants worldwide, posing a risk for both ecosystems and human health. In this study, a poplar-assisted bioremediation strategy has been applied for more than 4 years to a historically contaminated area (PCBs and HMs) in Southern Italy using the Monviso poplar clone. This clone was effective in promoting a decrease in all contaminants and an increase in soil quality in terms of organic carbon and microbial abundance. Moreover, a significant shift in the structure and predicted function of the belowground microbial community was also observed when analyzing both DNA and cDNA sequencing data. In fact, an increase in bacterial genera belonging to <italic>Proteobacteria</italic> able to degrade PCBs and resist HMs was observed. Moreover, the functional profiling of the microbial community predicted by PICRUSt2 made it possible to identify several genes associated with PCB transformation (e.g., <italic>bphAa</italic>, <italic>bphAb</italic>, <italic>bphB</italic>, <italic>bphC</italic>), response to HM oxidative stress (e.g., catalase, superoxide reductase, peroxidase) and HM uptake and expulsion (e.g., ABC transporters). This work demonstrated the effectiveness of the poplar clone Monviso in stimulating the natural belowground microbial community to remove contaminants and improve the overall soil quality. It is a practical example of a nature based solution involving synergic interactions between plants and the belowground microbial community.</p>