The Effects of Cupriavidus Metallidurians on Plant Growth and Development in Areas with Heavy Metal Runoff

Abstract

This project measures the effects of C. metallidurians on agricultural plant growth in environments with heavy metal runoff. Heavy metals have been known to negatively impact the environment specifically in the form of runoff. Heavy metals usually accumulate plant roots and inhibit nutrient and water transportation within plants. lIn this project, heavy metals being tested include Zinc, which prevents nutrients from being transported to the leaves; Nickel, which inhibits transpiration and photosynthesis and impairs metabolism; and Copper, which can cause protein denaturation and corrupt soil viability. C. metallidurians are a type of bacteria known to have heavy metal resistant plasmids and plasmid determinants specifically directed towards a different heavy metal each, with the cnr being resistant to copper and nickel, chr being resistant to copper and zinc, and cop being resistant to specifically copper. C. metallidurans have previously been known to detoxify high concentrations of copper and gold. They more famously have been known to pump out gold nuggets from exposure to copper metals. Since the effects of other heavy metals on C. metallidurans are not as well studied, this project aims to study the effects of those other heavy metals such as Zinc, Nickel, and Copper and apply this interaction to a real-life scenario of agriculture to see if this bacteria may be able to minimize the damage of Heavy Metal Runoff pollution.