Endophytes and Halophytes to Remediate Industrial Wastewater and Saline Soils: Perspectives from Qatar

Abstract

Many halophytes are considered to be salt hyperaccumulators, adopting ion extrusion and inclusion mechanisms. Such plants, with high aboveground biomass, may play crucial roles in saline habitats, including soil desalination and phytoremediation of polluted soils and waters. These plants cause significant changes in some of the soil’s physical and chemical properties; and have proven efficient in removing heavy metals and metabolizing organic compounds from oil and gas activities. Halophytes in Qatar, such as Halopeplis perfoliata, Salicornia europaea, Salsola soda, and Tetraena qatarensis, are shown here to play significant roles in the phytoremediation of polluted soils and waters. Microorganisms associated with these halophytes (such as endophytic bacteria) might boost these plants to remediate saline and polluted soils. A significant number of these bacteria, such as Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp., are reported here to play important roles in many sectors of life. We explore the mechanisms adopted by the endophytic bacteria to promote and support these halophytes in the desalination of saline soils and phytoremediation of polluted soils. The possible roles played by endophytes in different parts of native plants are given to elucidate the mechanisms of cooperation between these native plants and the associated microorganisms.

Endophytes from Halotolerant Plants Aimed to Overcome Salinity and Draught

“…The utilization of endophytes for the control of abiotic stresses such as salinity and draught is a relatively unexplored area of research. Endophytes have been studied for over three decades [ 13 , 36 , 37 ], however, our understanding of their role in plant resistance to salinity and draught is still limited [ 38 , 39 ]. Isolation, identification, and the study of endophytes from halophytic plants could be essential for the development of bioinoculants to facilitate salt soil phytoremediation and be beneficial for mitigating the stress to the plants growing in such salt-affected habitats.…”

Exploring the Potentials of Halophytes in Addressing Climate Change-Related Issues: A Synthesis of Their Biological, Environmental, and Socioeconomic Aspects

“…Farzi et al [152] found that the halophytes Salicornia europaea, Salsola crassa, and Bienertia cycloptera had very good ability to reduce the water salinity of the con-structed wetlands. Halophytes can also be used to treat wastewater from industries such as oil and gas [153,154]. In addition, many halophytes are hyper-accumulators of heavy metals and therefore can be used for the phytoremediation of heavy-metalpolluted soils [155].…”

Sustainable Applications of Endophytic Bacteria and Their Physiological/Biochemical Roles on Medicinal and Herbal Plants: Review

“…obtained in Iran and are capable of growth–promotion the halophyte sea-blite ( Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort.) [ 113 ]. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria of Brachybacterium saurashtrense sp.…”