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<p>Plant microbe interactions represent an effective strategy for sustaining crop productivity under heavy metal stress. Lead (Pb), a persistent and highly toxic environmental contaminant, poses significant risks to plant growth and food safety due to its entry into the food chain. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of heavy metal tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) to mitigate Pb-induced toxicity and enhance the growth performance of eggplant (<i>Solanum melongena</i> L.) under Pb-contaminated soil conditions. We hypothesized that inoculation with Pb-tolerant PGPRs may alleviate Pb stress by enhancing plant growth attributes, strengthening antioxidant defence mechanisms, and reducing Pb accumulation in plant tissues. Three Pb tolerant PGPRs (S1, S2, and S3) were assessed under controlled conditions using lead sulfate (PbSO₄) salt at a concentration of 600&#xa0;mg&#xa0;kg⁻1 soil, applied alone and in combination with bacterial inoculation. Plant growth, physiological traits, antioxidant enzyme activities, and Pb accumulation in soil and plant tissues were quantified. The results demonstrated that PGPR inoculation significantly improved growth and physiological parameters under Pb stress, although responses varied among strains. Notably, PGPR strain ‘S3’ exhibited the highest efficacy, increasing plant height (167%), shoot fresh and dry weights (112 and 203%), root fresh and dry weights (101 and 116%), fruit fresh and dry weights (41 and 48%), fruit number (67%), and chlorophyll content (50%) relative to uninoculated Pb-stressed controls. Furthermore, PGPR strain ‘S3’ inoculation enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, including catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase (127, 22 and 38%). Moreover, a substantial reduction in Pb concentration was observed in soil (50%), roots (75%), and fruits (80%) following S3 treatment. Molecular identification based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed PGPR strains S1, S2, and S3 as <i>Pseudomonas gessardi</i> (KJ547711.1), <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> (OP035847), and <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> (CP003041.1), respectively. In conclusion, Pb-tolerant PGPR particularly <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> (S3) demonstrated significant potential to alleviate Pb toxicity, reduce metal accumulation, and improve growth and physiological performance of <i>Solanum melongena</i> L. under Pb-contaminated conditions. These findings support the application of PGPR as a sustainable biotechnological approach for managing heavy metal stress in crop production systems.</p>

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Evaluation of Heavy Metal Tolerant Plant Growth Promoting Pseudomonas Strains for Improving the Growth of Eggplant (Solanum Melongena L.) under Lead (Pb) Stress

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月26日

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  • Uzma Ambreen,
  • Muhammad Shabaan,
  • Muhammad Junaid Sarwar,
  • Mehreen Malik,
  • Saira Sulaman,
  • Hafiz Naeem Asghar,
  • Usman Zulfiqar,
  • Hossam S. El-Beltagi,
  • Gamal Awad El-Shaboury,
  • Arzu Bakhshaliyeva,
  • Abdulrahman Alasmari

摘要

Plant microbe interactions represent an effective strategy for sustaining crop productivity under heavy metal stress. Lead (Pb), a persistent and highly toxic environmental contaminant, poses significant risks to plant growth and food safety due to its entry into the food chain. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of heavy metal tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) to mitigate Pb-induced toxicity and enhance the growth performance of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) under Pb-contaminated soil conditions. We hypothesized that inoculation with Pb-tolerant PGPRs may alleviate Pb stress by enhancing plant growth attributes, strengthening antioxidant defence mechanisms, and reducing Pb accumulation in plant tissues. Three Pb tolerant PGPRs (S1, S2, and S3) were assessed under controlled conditions using lead sulfate (PbSO₄) salt at a concentration of 600 mg kg⁻1 soil, applied alone and in combination with bacterial inoculation. Plant growth, physiological traits, antioxidant enzyme activities, and Pb accumulation in soil and plant tissues were quantified. The results demonstrated that PGPR inoculation significantly improved growth and physiological parameters under Pb stress, although responses varied among strains. Notably, PGPR strain ‘S3’ exhibited the highest efficacy, increasing plant height (167%), shoot fresh and dry weights (112 and 203%), root fresh and dry weights (101 and 116%), fruit fresh and dry weights (41 and 48%), fruit number (67%), and chlorophyll content (50%) relative to uninoculated Pb-stressed controls. Furthermore, PGPR strain ‘S3’ inoculation enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, including catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase (127, 22 and 38%). Moreover, a substantial reduction in Pb concentration was observed in soil (50%), roots (75%), and fruits (80%) following S3 treatment. Molecular identification based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed PGPR strains S1, S2, and S3 as Pseudomonas gessardi (KJ547711.1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (OP035847), and Pseudomonas fluorescens (CP003041.1), respectively. In conclusion, Pb-tolerant PGPR particularly Pseudomonas fluorescens (S3) demonstrated significant potential to alleviate Pb toxicity, reduce metal accumulation, and improve growth and physiological performance of Solanum melongena L. under Pb-contaminated conditions. These findings support the application of PGPR as a sustainable biotechnological approach for managing heavy metal stress in crop production systems.