Combined bioremediation for lead in mine tailings by Solanum nigrum L . and indigenous fungi.

Lead-contaminated mine tailings were bioremediated using microbial/phyto remediation. The optimum lead accumulation and tolerance capacity of the plant–microbe partnership were investigated, and their mechanisms were evaluated further under varied levels of lead contamination through a flowerpot experiment in a greenhouse. Enzymes activities revealed that bioremediation has improved fertility and metabolism of tailing soil. The removal efficiency of lead was in the order of microbial/phytoremediation > phytoremediation.Solanum nigrumL. was not shown to be a hyperaccumulator for lead.Mucor circinelloidessignificantly enhanced the growth response and lead accumulation in plants more thanMortierellaandTrichoderma asperellum. Moreover,Mortierellawas discovered to have good metal tolerance capacity under high Pb concentrations (1200 and 1600 mg kg−1). The results for lead bioavailability showed that phytostabilisation serves as a major repair pathway forS. nigrumL. Effective fractions were immobilised for decreased bioavailability byT. asperellumandM. circinelloides. On the contrary, an increased amount of lead was mobilised for increased bioavailability byMortierella.This study provides new insights into the feasibility of usingS. nigrumL. and the aforementioned indigenous fungus strains for large-scale bioremediation of mine tailings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]