Influence of Metal-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Strain K1 on the Alleviation of Chromium Stress in Wheat

Chromium (Cr) is recognized as a toxic metal that has detrimental effects on living organisms; notably, it is discharged into soil by various industries as a result of anthropogenic activities. Microbe-assisted phytoremediation is one of the most emergent and environmentally friendly methods used fo...

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Main Authors: Fanrong Zeng, Munazza Zahoor, Muhammad Waseem, Alia Anayat, Muhammad Rizwan, Awais Ahmad, Tahira Yasmeen, Shafaqat Ali, Mohamed A. El-Sheikh, Mohammed Nasser Alyemeni, Leonard Wijaya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/9/1354
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Summary:Chromium (Cr) is recognized as a toxic metal that has detrimental effects on living organisms; notably, it is discharged into soil by various industries as a result of anthropogenic activities. Microbe-assisted phytoremediation is one of the most emergent and environmentally friendly methods used for the detoxification of pollutants. In this study, the alleviative role of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> strain K1 was evaluated in wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) under Cr stress. For this, various Cr concentrations (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>) with and without peat-moss-based bacterial inoculum were applied in the soil. Results depicted that Cr stress reduced the plants’ growth by causing oxidative stress in the absence of <i>S. aureus</i> K1 inoculation. However, the application of <i>S. aureus</i> K1 regulated the plants’ growth and antioxidant enzymatic activities by reducing oxidative stress and Cr toxicity through conversion of Cr<sup>6+</sup> to Cr<sup>3+</sup>. The Cr<sup>6+</sup> uptake by wheat was significantly reduced in the <i>S. aureus</i> K1 inoculated plants. It can be concluded that the application of <i>S. aureus</i> K1 could be an effective approach to alleviate the Cr toxicity in wheat and probably in other cereals grown under Cr stress.
ISSN:2073-4395