Plant growth-promoting trait of rhizobacteria isolated from soil contaminated with petroleum and heavy metals

Abstract

Three hundred and seventy-four rhizobacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere soil (RS) or rhizoplane (RP) of Echinochloa crus-galli, Carex leiorhyncha, Commelina communis, Persicaria lapathifolia, Carex kobomugi, and Equisetum arvense, grown in contaminated soil with petroleum and heavy metals. The isolates were screened for plant growth-promoting trait (PGPT), including indole acetic acid (IAA) productivity, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity, and siderophore(s) synthesis ability. IAA production was detected in 86 isolates (23.0%), ACC deaminase activity in 168 isolates (44.9%), and siderophore(s) synthesis in 213 isolates (57.0%). Among the rhizobacteria showing PGPT, 162 isolates had multiple traits showing more than two types of PGPT. The PGPT-possesing rhizobacteria were more abundant in the RP (82%) samples than the RS (75%). There was a negative correlation (-0.656, p<0.05) between the IAA producers and the ACC deaminase producers. Clustering analysis by principal component analysis showed that RP was the most important factor influencing the ecological distribution and physiological characterization of PGPT-possesing rhizobacteria.