Comparative efficiency of silica gel, biochar, and plant growth promoting bacteria on Cr and Pb availability to Solanum melongena L. in contaminated soil irrigated with wastewater

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.950362
• Publication Date: 2022-08-04T06:45:30Z
• Authors: Umm e Rabiya; Muhammad Ali; Muhammad Ansar Fa...; Zafar Siddiq; Saud A. Alamri; Manzer H. Siddiqui; Waqas-ud-Din Khan
• Keywords: Melongena

Crop irrigation with untreated wastewater is a routine practice in developing countries that causes multiple human health consequences. A comparative study was performed to regulate total Cr and Pb stress soil Solanum melongena L. plant. For this purpose, 0.2% chitosan polymerized silica gel (CP-silica gel), 1.5% zinc-enriched biochar (ZnBc), three bacterial species such as Trichococcus sp. (B1), Pseudomonas alcaligenes (B2), Bacillus subtilis (B3) were selected. Initially, biosorption trial conducted test the heavy metal removal efficiency of B1, B2, B3 for 24 h. Hence, showed maximum among studied isolates. Then, pot 12 different treatments having replicates. After harvesting, growth biochemical parameters chlorophyll concentration, proteins, phenolics, reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzymes analyzed. The results demonstrated application significantly (p ≤ 0.01) reduced fresh dry weights root, stem, leaves due high toxicity. However, CP-silica ZnBc best when applied combination B3. concentration leaf decreased (91 85%) + CP-Silica B3, respectively, compared control. There reduction stem hydrogen peroxide (87%) malondialdehyde (81%) recorded treatment enhanced activities viz. ascorbate peroxidase (6-folds) catalase (7-folds) relative Similarly, phenolics (3-folds) protein contents CP gel+B3 Overall, proved be most appropriate can used limit deleterious effects pollution.