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Natural amino acids (NAA) have been rarely investigated as chelators, despite their ability to chelate heavy metals (HMs). In the present research, the effects of extracted natural amino acids, as a natural and environmentally friendly chelate agent and the inoculation of Pseudomonas fluorescens (PF) and Micrococcus yunnanensis (MY) bacteria were investigated on some responses of quinoa in a soil polluted with Pb, Ni, Cd, and Zn. Inoculation of PGPR bacteria enhanced plant growth and phytoremediation efficiency. Pb and Cd were higher in quinoa roots, while Ni and Zn were higher in the shoots. The highest efficiencies were observed with NAA treatment and simultaneous inoculation of PF and MY bacteria for Ni, Cd, Pb, and Zn. The highest values of phytoremediation efficiency and uptake efficiency of Ni, Cd, Pb, and Zn were 21.28, 19.11, 14.96 and 18.99 μg g−1, and 31.52, 60.78, 51.89, and 25.33 μg g−1, respectively. Results of present study well demonstrated NAA extracted from blood powder acted as strong chelate agent due to their diversity in size, solubilizing ability, abundant functional groups, and potential in the formation of stable complexes with Ni, Cd, Pb, and Zn, increasing metal availability in soil and improving phytoremediation efficiency in quinoa. NOVELTY STATEMENT: This study focused on an underexplored topic, the potential of natural amino acids (NAA) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) to enhance phytoremediation efficiency of quinoa in a multi-metal contaminated soil with the waste recycling approach. Despite their chelating abilities, NAA have been rarely studied in this context. In the present study, the effects of extracted NAA, acting as environmentally friendly chelating agents, and the inoculation of Pseudomonas fluorescens (PF) and Micrococcus yunnanensis (MY) bacteria were examined on the responses of quinoa in a soil contaminated with Pb, Ni, Cd, and Zn. HIGHLIGHTS: Three agricultural wastes were used to prepare natural amino acids. Natural amino acids caused satisfactory results in remediating HMs-polluted soil and amino acid extracted from blood powder gave the best results. Phytoremediation efficiency depends strongly on the type of metal. Pseudomonas fluorescens and Micrococcus yunnanensis improved remediation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of appropriate organic amendments as the carriers of bacterial consortium may improve the remediation efficiency of HMs-polluted soil. A greenhouse experiment was designed and carried out to investigate the capability of biochar, and activated carbon prepared from ostrich manure and almond husk as the carriers of bacterial inoculants in the phytoremediation of a calcareous soil polluted with Pb, Ni, Cd and Zn by maize. Results showed that the application of biochar and activated carbon prepared from ostrich manure increased root (78–129%) and shoot (72.3–272%) dry weight, as compared to the control. The values of metal accumulation in both maize root and shoot were in the order of Cd>Zn>Ni>Pb. While biochar and activated carbon prepared from ostrich manure significantly increased both root and shoot metals uptake, those prepared from almond husk drastically decreased the uptake of some metals. The foremost mechanism involved in the phytoremediation of Cd, Ni and Pb was phytostabilization while that of Zn was due to the phytoextraction. Results of the present study demonstrated the effectiveness of ostrich manure-derived biochar and activated carbon as an efficient treatment in the phytoremediation of multi-metal-polluted soils and the mitigation of HMs phytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in phytoremediation of zinc contaminated calcareous soil by vetiver grass. Experiment was a factorial arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Two factors consisted of Zn levels (10, 150, 300 and 600 mg kg-1 as ZnSO4.7H2O) and AM fungi (control, Glomus intraradices, Glomus versiforme). Shoot and root dry weights decreased as Zn levels increased. Mycorrhizal inoculation increased those plant measured parameters compared to those of control. With increasing Zn levels, and mycorrhizal inoculation, Zn uptake of shoot and root increased. Root colonization with mycorrhizal inoculation increased, but decreased as Zn levels increased. Mycorrhizal inoculation increased zinc extraction, uptake and translocation efficiencies. Zinc translocation factor decreased as Zn levels increased, however inoculation with AM fungi increased it. Zinc extraction and uptake efficiencies of G. intraradices were more than G. versiforme,while zinc translocation efficiency and factor were vice versa.

Purpose: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative electro-bio-chemical approach, in the phytoremediation of multi-elements polluted soil. Methods: A 3×4 factorial greenhouse trial was conducted with four levels of amendments (without amendment, chemical amendment, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), biological amendment (Thiobacillus), and both) and three levels of electrical current (0, 1, and 2 V cm−1). Ryegrass seeds were sown in a soil polluted with Pb, Cd, Zn, and Ni. Two months after planting, roots and shoots were harvested. Dry matter yield was measured in harvested parts, and the contents of metals in different parts of ryegrass were determined. Results: Application of electric current (1 V cm−1) increased mean root and shoot dry weights of ryegrass and consequently increased Ni, Zn, Pb, and Cd uptake in ryegrass root and shoot. Application of 2 V cm−1 electric current increased Pb shoot uptake but decreased root dry weight, Cd and Zn root and shoot uptake, and also Pb root uptake. Although the addition of NTA and/or inoculation of Thiobacillus enhanced metal uptakes, co-application of these two treatments caused higher enhancement in metal uptakes by ryegrass. Plant position (anode vs cathode) had no considerable effect on most parameters measured. Mean Ni and Cd uptakes were higher in plants grown in anode position. Overall, the highest root and shoot dry weight, metal uptake, phytoextraction efficiency, uptake efficiency, and translocation factor especially for Pb were observed following the triple usage of 1 V cm−1 electric current along with application of chemical and biological treatments. Conclusion: The main conclusion derived from these observations is that the proposed electro-bio-chemical approach is highly influential in the phytoremediation of multi-elements polluted soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A greenhouse study was conducted as a completely randomised design in a factorial arrangement to assess how inoculation of AMF (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus) and application of EDTA (ethylenediaminetetracetic acid) as biological and chemical amendments can affect the Ni (nickel) phytoremediation in Ni-polluted soils using sunflower plant. The results showed that the inoculation of AMF increased root colonisation while applying EDTA and high level of Ni decreased it. Microbial incubation has a positive effect on both shoot and root dry yields; however, co-application of Ni and EDTA demoted the growth rate. Shoot nutrients uptake of plants decreased as Ni levels increased. In inoculated plants, shoot uptake of Zn, Fe and Mn was higher in all Ni levels than non-inoculated plants. Ni uptake in plant shoots and roots increased with applying both AMF and EDTA. However, the mean Ni concentration and uptake in inoculated plants along with applying EDTA are higher in sunflower shoots than in roots. As Ni levels increased, Ni extraction and uptake efficiencies increased; it can be concluded co-application of EDTA and AMF was effective in increasing phytoextraction potential of sunflower plants in Ni-contaminated sites. This study highlights that AMF could be suitable for cleaning Ni-polluted areas and it could significantly contribute to phytoremediation technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation is a promising technique to clean up toxic heavy metals including lead (Pb). A greenhouse trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of citric, succinic, malonic and oxalic acids on micronutrient uptake and phytoremediation of Pb contaminated soil by maize under different Pb levels. Mean root and shoot dry weights of maize decreased with increasing Pb levels. At the lowest Pb level, application of citric and oxalic acids caused increase effects on root and shoot dry weight, respectively, as compared to the absence of organic acid. As Pb levels increased, micronutrient uptake in maize shoot decreased. Among the studied organic acids, only the application of oxalic acid increased uptake of all micronutrients in maize shoot as compared to control at the lowest Pb level. Mean root and shoot Pb concentration and uptake and also uptake index noticeably increased at the highest Pb level. All tested acids increased Pb concentration and uptake in maize root. At the highest Pb level, organic acids, except for citric acid, significantly increased shoot Pb uptake and uptake index as compared to the absence of organic acid. Translocation factors less than 1, demonstrated that most of Pb taken up by maize accumulated in root as compared to shoot. According to results reported herein, application of malonic, succinic and oxalic acids is a good strategy to enhance phytostabilization potential of Pb by maize in pb-polluted soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation is an appropriate technology used to remove pollutants from environment components. A greenhouse trial was conducted to test the hypothesis that application of surfactant levels and inoculation with Pseudomonas fluorescens bacterium and/or Piriformospora indica fungus enhances the phytoremediation of cadmium (Cd). Maize seeds were sown in Cd-polluted soil, and after 2 months Cd status in plant tissues and Cd phytoremediation criteria was determined. Results showed that application of surfactant increased root and shoot dry weight. Mean Cd uptake in roots and shoots increased following the application of 2 and 4 mmol kg−1 Tween 80, respectively. Application of 2 mmol kg−1 Tween 80 increased mean Cd uptake efficiency, while application of 4 mmol kg−1 Tween 80 increased phytoextraction and translocation efficiencies. Inoculation with P. indica and P. fluorescens was mostly effective in increasing Cd uptake and Cd phytoextraction efficiency, respectively. Co-inoculation with P. indica and P. fluorescens had no superiority to application of each inoculant alone. Since most of the Cd remained in roots, phytostabilization is probably the main mechanism controlling Cd phytoremediation by maize. According to the results, application of Tween 80 and inoculation with P. indica and P. fluorescens effectively enhanced phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil by maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assisted phytoremediation has been widely used for decontamination of potentially toxic elements contaminated soils. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of different microbial inoculations and surfactant levels on the phytoremediation of a Pb-polluted calcareous soil by maize. The results showed that application of surfactant increased both root and shoot dry matter yields. Microbial inoculations, however, had no significant effect on the root or shoot dry matter yield. Mean Pb uptake in maize root or shoot increased only following the application of some surfactant levels. Inoculation with microorganisms significantly increased both mean Pb concentration and uptake in maize root but not in maize shoot. Application of 4 mmol surfactant kg−1 along with inoculation with Priformospora indica was effective in increasing Pb phytostabilisation potential. While the application of 2 mmol surfactant kg−1 along with inoculation with Pseudomonas fluorescens was effective in increasing Pb phytoextraction potential. The fact that the values of translocation efficiencies were low in all treatments, demonstrated the low capability of maize for translocation of Pb from root to shoot. Inoculation with P. fluorescens was the most effective treatment in increasing metal micronutrient uptake. Microbial inoculation and surfactant levels enhanced Pb phytoremediation mostly through phytostabilisation of this metal by maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation is a cleanup technology for the removal of contaminants from polluted soils. The influences of humic acid (HA) and four plant growth regulators, i.e. gibberellic acid, salicylic acid, 3-indoleacetic acid, and 6-benzylaminopurine on the phytoremediation of Pb by maize were investigated in a pot trial on a Pb-contaminated soil. Foliar spray of 6-benzylaminopurine and salicylic acid significantly increased mean root dry matter but none of growth regulators had a significant effect on that of shoot. Addition of HA decreased root dry matter and had no significant effect on that of shoots. Application of all growth regulators except gibberellic acid significantly increased root Pb uptake. Application of salicylic acid significantly increased mean uptake efficiency and shoot Pb concentration and uptake. Although addition of HA significantly increased mean phytoextraction and translocation efficiencies, these responses were mainly attributed to the role of HA in the reduction of both root dry weight and Pb uptake, meaning that HA is not promising in Pb phytoremediation by maize. Among the four plant growth regulators evaluated, salicylic acid was the most effective in enhancing phytoremediation through phytostabilization of Pb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in phytoremediation of lead (Pb)-contaminated soil by vetiver grass. Experiment was a factorial arranged in a completely randomized design. Factors included four Pb levels (50, 200, 400, and 800 mg kg−1) as Pb (NO3)2, AM fungi at three levels (non mycorrhizal (NM) control,Rhizophagus intraradices, Glomus versiforme). Shoot and root dry weights (SDW and RDW) decreased as Pb levels increased. Mycorrhizal inoculation increased SDW and RDW compared to NM control. With mycorrhizal inoculation and increasing Pb levels, Pb uptake of shoot and root increased compared to those of NM control. Root colonization increased with mycorrhizal inoculation but decreased as Pb levels increased. Phosphorus concentration and uptake in shoot of plants inoculated with AM fungi was significantly higher than NM control at 200 and 800 mg Pb kg−1. The Fe concentration, Fe and Mn uptake of shoot in plants inoculated withRhizophagus intraradicesin all levels of Pb were significantly higher than NM control. Mycorrhizal inoculation increased Pb extraction, uptake and translocation efficiencies. Lead translocation factor decreased as Pb levels increased; however inoculation with AM fungi increased Pb translocation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Heavy metal removal by plants bears a great potential to decontaminate soils. A major challenge remains to find plant species that accumulate heavy metal, harbor a sufficient biomass and grow in the desired environmental conditions. Here we present candidate plants for phytoremediation in arid climates. We sampled sixteen dominant plants from mining area naturally polluted with high Pb-Zn and Cd concentration. Plants were assessed for their ability to accumulate Zn, Pb and Cd and six species were selected on the base of their heavy metal concentration in shoots and leaves, enrichment coefficient and translocation factor. Out of all the tested species in field study, Alcea aucheri was the most promising one which accumulated over than 460 and 4089 μg/g Pb in the roots and shoots, respectively. We confirmed this ability with a greenhouse experiment on soil spiked with different Pb and Cd concentrations. Concentration of Pb and Cd in aerial parts of A. aucheri were more than 1700 and 345 μg/g in 2400 and 200 mg/kg Pb and Cd soil treatment respectively. We propose that A. aucheri as model hyperaccumulator able to live in adverse condition, producing high biomass, and supersede heavy metal accumulation reported to other plants, making of this species one of the best Pb hyperaccumulator reported to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) contamination of soils is a widespread problem. Mycorrhizal inoculation and synthetic chelators such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) may be useful for improving phytoremediation efficiency in Pb-contaminated soils. A greenhouse experiment was performed to study the influence of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF),Glomus mosseae, and addition of EDTA on phytoremediation of Pb by sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) in a calcareous soil. The experiment was a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement with five levels of Pb, two levels of mycorrhizal treatments, and two levels of EDTA. Inoculation increased root colonization as Pb levels increased, but the addition of EDTA decreased it. Shoot and root dry matter yields increased by inoculation; however, they decreased with EDTA and Pb levels in co-application treatments. Pb concentration in shoots was significantly higher than that in roots, indicating a translocation factor greater than 1. Inoculation or addition of EDTA significantly increased Pb in roots and its translocation to shoots. The uptake index (UI) value increased in co-application of EDTA and AMF and the individual application of them; it is, therefore, concluded that both AMF and EDTA are effective in phytoremediation of Pb by sunflowers in the studied soil. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Growing environmental concern regarding multi elements-contaminated soils reveals the necessity of paying more attention to environmentally friendly remediation techniques such as phytoremediation. A large number of factors influences phytoremediation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and investigation on a variety of these factors need appropriate statistical approaches such as "Taguchi optimization" which effectively decreases time and cost of experiments. In the present study, based on the Taguchi optimization method, the effects of several biological (plant type and mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)) and chemical (chelating agents, surfactants and organic acids) factors, on the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) were investigated. The goal was to find out the most effective factors as well as the best level for each factor. The values of dry weights in roots and aerial parts of the studied plants were in orders of maize > sorghum > sunflower and sorghum > maize > sunflower, respectively. AMF was the main factor in increasing dry weight of shoots. Inoculation of AMF caused increases in root and shoot uptake of some PTEs. showed that phytoremediation of PTEs is element-dependent; as Zn showed the highest translocation factor (TF) and bioconcentration factor (BCF) values, while Ni showed the lowest ones and the intermediate values belonged to Pb and Cd. These results show the diverse distribution of elements in plant parts, as Zn and Ni were mostly accumulated in shoot and root, respectively. Although different factors caused impacts on phytoremediation criteria, the role of plant type in the phytoremediation of PTEs was at the first rank. Mean TF of PTEs in sunflower was 6.3 times that of maize. Sunflower showed high TF value for the four elements and translocated most of the PTEs from root to the aerial parts demonstrating phytoextraction as the main mechanism in this plant. Maize and sorghum, however, showed low TF and accumulated most of PTEs in their roots revealing phytostabilization as the main mechanism. In general, it can be concluded that plant type was the most influential factor in the phytoremediation of PTEs followed by EDTA and AMF. Taguchi optimization revealed the appropriateness and significance of different chemical and biological treatments on phytoremediation criteria of different elements. Image 1 • Plant type showed the first rank in a significant number of phytoremediation criteria. • Chemical treatments were more effective than biological treatments in phytoremediation of multi-metals contaminated soil. • Among the chemical treatments, the role of EDTA on the phytoremediation of multi-metal polluted soil was predominant. • Taguchi optimization makes it possible to conduct comprehensive phytoremediation study with multiple factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]