Isolation and Characterization of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria for the Phytoremediation of Diesel- and Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil

Plant growth-promoting (PGP) bacteria can be used as bioresources to enhance phytoremediation through their PGP traits and pollutant removal capacity. In this study, 49 rhizobacteria were primarily isolated from the rhizosphere of tall fescue grown in diesel- and heavy metal-contaminated soil. Their biosurfactant production, phosphate (P) solubilization, and siderophore production were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated to identify superior PGP bacteria. The optimal conditions for the growth of PGP bacteria and the stability of their PGP traits were a temperature of 35℃, a pH of 7, and 2 days of cultivation time. Four superior PGP bacteria (Pseudomonas sp. NL3, Bacillus sp. NL6, Bacillus sp. LBY14, and Priestia sp. TSY6) were finally selected. Pseudomonas sp. NL3 exhibited superior biosurfactant production and P solubilization. Bacillus sp. NL6 showed the highest P solubilization and superior production of biosurfactants and siderophores. Bacillus sp. LBY14 offered the best siderophore production and impressive P solubilization. Priestia sp. TSY6 had superior capacity for all three PGP traits. Through their secretion of beneficial PGP metabolites, the four bacteria isolated in this study have the potential for use in the phytoremediation of contaminated soil.