Lead (Pb+2) is a heavy metal and one of the main environmental pollutant, toxic to plants, animals and humans. Present study was conducted to evaluate ten plant growth promoting bacteria strains (B1-10) for biofilm production and their effect on growth indices, physiology, yield, antioxidant profile and lead uptake in rapeseed (Brassica napus) and clover (Trifolium repens) in lead polluted soil under nutrient broth medium and pot condition. Three pre-characterized biofilm forming lead tolerant growth promoting strains (B3: Pseudomonas fluorescens), B6: Pseudomonas putida and (B8: Bacillus safensis) were used to inoculate rapeseed and clover growing in the soil polluted with different levels (400, 800 and 1200 mg kg-1) of Pb arranged in completely randomized design with factorial arrangement. Results from screening experiment exhibited that more biofilm was produced by B3, B6 and B8 under highest level of lead contamination (1200 mg kg-1). Further, lead contamination decreased rapeseed and clover growth, physiology and yield at all levels of lead stress. But biofilm forming lead tolerant growth promoting bacteria application in lead contaminated soil enhanced rapeseed and clover growth, physiology, yield, antioxidant profile, proline and decreased malanodialdehyde content (which was decreased by different strains application under lead stress) of rapeseed and clover over no inoculation. Inoculation with all strains also increased the lead uptake in roots, shoots and decreased lead uptake in seeds of rapeseed and clover than plants in lead stress without inoculation.
Keywords: Antioxidant defense system; Bioinoculants; Bioremediation; Heavy metal resistance; Rhizobacteria.
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