The aim of the study is to analyse the effect of microbial consortia for wheat biofortification, growth, yield and soil fertility as part of a 2-year field study and compare it with the use of chemical fertilizers. Methods and Results:A field trial (second year) was conducted with various combinations of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) treatments, ranging from a single inoculant to multiple combinations.The microbial consortia used were Bacillus sp. and AMF based on first-year field trial results. The consortia based on native (CP4) and non-native (AHP3) PGPB (Bacillus sp.) and AMF performed better in terms of nutrients content in wheat grain tissue and yield-related traits compared with chemical fertilizer treated and untreated control. Dual treatment of PGPB (CP4+AHP3) combined with AMF resulted in a significant increase in antioxidants. The spatial colonization of AMF in roots indicated that both the isolates CP4 and AHP3 were able to enhance the AMF colonization in root tissue. Furthermore, soil enzymes' activities were higher with the PGPB and AMF combination giving the best results. A positive correlation was recorded between plant growth, grain yield and soil physicochemical parameters. Conclusions:Our findings confirm that the combined treatment of CP4 and AHP3 and AMF functions as an effective microbial consortium with excellent application prospects for wheat biofortification, grain yield and soil fertility compared with chemical fertilizers. Significance and Impact of Study:The extensive application of chemical fertilizers on low-yielding field sites is a severe concern for cereal crops, especially wheat in the Asian continent. This study serves as a primer for implementing site-specific sustainable agricultural-management practices using a green technology leading to significant gains in agriculture.

Arsenic contamination in soil and water is a major problem worldwide. Inorganic arsenic is widely present as arsenate and arsenite. Arsenic is transferred to crops through the soil and irrigation water. It is reported to reduce crop production in plants and can cause a wide array of diseases in humans, including different types of cancers, premature delivery, stillbirth, and spontaneous abortion. Arsenic methyltransferase (AS3MT) in the human body converts inorganic arsenic into monomethylarsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid, which are later excreted from the body. Arsenic transfer from the soil to grains of rice involves different transporters such as Lsi1, Lsi2, and Lsi6. These transporters are also required for the transfer of silicate, which makes them important for the plant. Different mitigation strategies have been used to mitigate arsenic from crops, such as plant growth-promoting bacteria, fungi, and nanoparticles, as well as using different plant genotypes and plant extracts. Different factors such as nitric oxide, Fe, and jasmonate also affect the response of a plant to the oxidative stress caused by arsenic. This review highlights the various effects of arsenic on plants with respect to their biochemical, molecular, and physiological aspects and the employment of classical and innovative methods for their mitigation. The current review is expected to initiate further research to improve As remediation to mitigate the effect of heavy metal pollution on the environment.

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