Utilizing the Potential of Microorganisms for Managing Arsenic Contamination: A Feasible and Sustainable Approach

Abstract

Arsenic (As) contamination is a serious issue throughout the world. The scale of problem is being realized to be even greater with the discovery of new As contaminated regions with time. Rice is a staple crop across the world with approximately half of the world population dependent on rice for their daily dietary intake especially in Southeast Asian countries. It is not only the consumption of rice grains but also food products based on rice, which contribute toward As exposure to humans. Plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) constitute a diverse group of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and microalgae. These are associated with the rhizospheric zone of plants. They improve plant growth through different mechanisms like increase of nutrients level in plants, improved soil quality, siderophore and hormone production, changes in biochemical properties of plants etc. Another important assistance imparted by PGPMs is the altered speciation of As in the soil through methylation and subsequent change in the bioavailability of As to the plants. Further, a change in As speciation also affects As uptake and transport in plants. The purpose of this review is to discuss importance of PGPM association in As toxicity amelioration in plants along with favorably reducing As concentrations in crop plants or increasing As accumulation in phytoremediator plants. This review also presents mechanisms of action of PGPMs and describes both laboratory-and field-studies on the application of PGPMs for tackling As-contamination. The future prospects of successful utilization of PGPMs are also discussed.

Assessing the Diversity and Metabolic Potential of Psychrotolerant Arsenic-Metabolizing Microorganisms From a Subarctic Peatland Used for Treatment of Mining-Affected Waters by Culture-Dependent and -Independent Techniques

“…(one isolate). Arsenic-tolerant microorganisms can promote plant growth and uptake of arsenic in arsenic-contaminated environments and are thus important in phytoremediation approaches ( Mesa et al, 2017 ; Upadhyay et al, 2018 ). Some of the isolated strains from the present study might thus be used as inoculants to improve phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated systems.…”

“…In addition, arsenic-tolerant microbes are important drivers of many other contaminant removal processes like nitrogen or sulfate removal in treatment peatlands and other high-arsenic environments. They can, moreover, promote plant growth and phytoremediation in high-arsenic environments ( Mesa et al, 2017 ; Upadhyay et al, 2018 ).…”

Enhanced Arsenic Tolerance in Triticum aestivum Inoculated with Arsenic-Resistant and Plant Growth Promoter Microorganisms from a Heavy Metal-Polluted Soil

“…Interactions between plants and microorganisms in the rhizosphere play a key role in growth of plants, and in nutrient uptake and transport [48]. Several studies have shown that plants’ adaptation to local environmental stress is closely related to the microorganisms that are in their surroundings [49].…”

Deciphering the Multi-Dimensional Abilities of Indigenous Bacteria Enterobacter Cloacae Isolated from Arsenic Contaminated Industrial Sites

“…Several documented evidences have reported the isolation of several genera such as Exiguobacterium, Aeromonas, Planococcus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Escherichia, Acinetobacter that illustrated high tolerance capacity for arsenic (0-100mM arsenate) (Upadhyay et al 2018;Taran et al 2019).…”