Phytotechnologies: how plants and bacteria work together

Abstract

Decision on the type of remediation technology to adopt in any particular situation is a difficult issue. Biotechnologies are beginning to offer efficient tools and environmental solutions for the cleanup of contaminated sites. An environmentally friendly in-situ technology is phytoremediation. This term covers different processes applicable to heavy metal-contaminated soils: phytostabilisation, rhizofiltration, phytoextraction. The interactions in soil between plant and microbes are one of the most important factors that influence the technology. The capacity of soil bacteria to utilize 1-aminocyclo-propane-1-carboxylate (ACC) and thus increase root elongation is reviewed. A mathematical model of arsenic accumulation in sunflower plant treated with a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) Pseudomonas fluorescens biotype F and the possibilities of utilization of biomass from phytoremediation are presented. Further perspectives in that direction are related to the use of natural or introduced PGPR.