Reduced cadmium toxicity in rapeseed via alteration of root properties and accelerated plant growth by a nitrogen-fixing bacterium

Abstract

Cd accumulation in crops has become a global environmental problem because it endangers human health. Screening for microorganisms that can reduce Cd accumulation in crops is a possible measure to address this issue. However, success has been limited, and most previous work did not involve bacteria. In the present study, a strain of N-fixing bacteria (Burkholderia spp.) that exhibits high levels of Cd tolerance was screened. The ability of this bacterium to reduce Cd in rapeseed was then assessed in sterile hydroponic and open soil culture systems. In the hydroponic system, the Burkholderia inoculum promoted Cd fixation in rapeseed roots and thus reduced Cd enrichment in aboveground edible tissues (leaves). The mechanisms were related to increased activity of pectin methylesterase in root cell walls, and the transformation of the chemical form of root Cd from “active” (NaCl-extracted) to “inert” (HCl-extracted and residual Cd) states. Additionally, Burkholderia accelerated plant growth, thus shortening the period in which the plant is available for Cd absorption. In the soil culture system, Burkholderia also reduced Cd enrichment in rapeseed leaves in the presence of other microorganisms. Thus, the bacterial strain shows potential for broad application for reducing the accumulation of Cd in crops.