Satyawati Sharma, Kalpana Arora, Abhishek Sharma and Ashwani Kumar
Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
Contaminated soils are hazardous to the environment and human health. Among various soil remedial measures, bioremediation is considered to be ecofriendly and socio-economically a highly suitable method. Microbes are adapted to thrive in adverse conditions of high acidity, alkalinity, toxicity and temperature and can either uptake and/or bio-transform the heavy metals from/in the soil. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) play vital role in soil bioremediation, increasing soil fertility and enhancing plant growth and biomass. The present study deals with the evaluation of potential application of AMF along with Brassica juncea, Sorghum vulgare, Panicum maximumand P. virgatum (Switch grass) for reducing the heavy metal toxicity (Pb, Cd) and Jatropha for salinity (EC up to 7 mmhos/cm) and alkalinity (pH up to 10) of soils. The results indicated effective role of AMF colonization for biomass production in heavy metal and salt affected soils along with bioremediation. 23-50% heavy metal (Cd and Pb) uptake was observed in different selected plant species. An increase in proline, protein and sugars was also observed. The data pertaining to glomalin, content in the soil (AM-inoculated normal soil) showed a higher amount of glomalin. In comparison to non-saline control, AMF treatment showed 1.59, 1.54 and 1.28 times elevated SOD, 3.46, 3.23 and 3.05 times APX and 2.93, 2.92 and 3.1 times GR enzyme activities at 6, 12, and 18 MAP, respectively. Proteomic analysis of Jatropha seedlings, grown under different salt stress regimes, using 1DSDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF showed up- and down-regulation of some new proteins. Down regulating protein, 49kD was matched with Neesia (NADH dehydrogenase subunit) and Jatropha integrimma (ribulode 1-5 biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit). Up regulated protein 17kD was matched with heat shock class 1 protein and novel protein of 23kD was matched with unnamed protein product Osterococcustauri.
The data pertaining to bioremediation of soils (Heavy metal %, EC, pH) and plant biomass yield will be presented at conference.
Keywords: Bioremediation, Efficient microbes, Heavy metals, Salinity and Alkalinity Pollutants.