Unique biocenosis as a foundation to develop a phytobial consortium for effective bioremediation of Cr(VI)-polluted waters and sediments

Joanna Augustynowicz; Ewa Sitek; Dariusz Latowski; Konrad Wołowski; Anna Kowalczyk; Rafał Przejczowski

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116506

Unique biocenosis as a foundation to develop a phytobial consortium for effective bioremediation of Cr(VI)-polluted waters and sediments

Environ Pollut. 2021 Jan 15:273:116506. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116506. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Joanna Augustynowicz¹, Ewa Sitek², Dariusz Latowski³, Konrad Wołowski⁴, Anna Kowalczyk³, Rafał Przejczowski⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Botany, Physiology and Plant Protection, Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29 Listopada 54, 31-425, Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: j.augustynowicz@urk.edu.pl.
² Department of Botany, Physiology and Plant Protection, Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29 Listopada 54, 31-425, Kraków, Poland.
³ Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Ul. Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Kraków, Poland.
⁴ Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Ul. Lubicz 46, 31-512, Kraków, Poland.
⁵ ALVENTA SA, Ul. Karola Olszewskiego 25, 32-566, Alwernia, Poland.

PMID: 33493757
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116506

Abstract

This paper analyzes a unique, aquatic phytobial biocenosis that has been forming naturally for over 20 years and operating as a filter for Cr(VI)-polluted groundwater. Our study presents a thorough taxonomic analysis of the biocenosis, including filamentous algae, vascular plants, and microbiome, together with the analysis of Cr accumulation levels, bioconcentration factors and other environmentally-significant parameters: siderophore production by bacteria, biomass growth of the plants or winter hardiness. Among 67 species identified in the investigated reservoir, 13 species were indicated as particularly useful in the bioremediation of Cr(VI)-polluted water and sediment. Moreover, three species of filamentous algae, Tribonema sp., and three easily culturable bacterial species were for the first time shown as resistant to Cr concentration up to 123 mg/dm³, i.e. 6150 times over the permissible level. The work presents a modern holistic phytobial consortium indispensable for the remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated aquatic environment in temperate zones worldwide.

Keywords: Biological mat; Cr(VI); Phytobial remediation; Pseudomonas peli; Tribonema.