Evaluation of the PGPR Capacity of Four Bacterial Strains and Their Mixtures, Tested on Lupinus albus var. Dorado Seedlings, for the Bioremediation of Mercury-Polluted Soils

Research demonstrates that specific Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains, particularly Pseudomonas baetica (B2) and Pseudomonas moraviensis (B1), significantly enhance the growth of Lupinus albus var. Dorado seedlings in mercury-contaminated soils, making them promising candidates for phyto-rhizoremediation strategies. The study evaluated four PGPR strains and their mixtures, isolated from naturally grown plants in Almadén's highly polluted mining district, by inoculating emerged seeds under high mercury concentrations. After 20 days, biometric measurements revealed that the treated seedlings exhibited improved growth metrics at both root and aerial levels compared to untreated controls. These findings highlight the potential of PGPR-mediated bioremediation to mitigate mercury contamination in severely affected soils like those in Almadén, offering a sustainable approach for environmental restoration.

González, D., Blanco, C., Probanza, A., Jiménez, P. A., & Robas, M. (2021). Evaluation of the PGPR Capacity of Four Bacterial Strains and Their Mixtures, Tested on Lupinus albus var. Dorado Seedlings, for the Bioremediation of Mercury-Polluted Soils. Processes, 9(8), 1293. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9081293