Trichoderma virens PDR-28: A heavy metal-tolerant and plant growth-promoting fungus for remediation and bioenergy crop production on mine tailing soil

A. Giridhar Babu, Jaehong Shim, Keuk Soo Bang, Patrick J. Shea, Byung Taek Oh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

93 Scopus citations

Abstract

A heavy metal-tolerant fungus, Trichoderma virens PDR-28, was isolated from rhizosphere soil and evaluated for use in remediating mine tailing soil and for plant biomass production. PDR-28 exhibited plant growth-promoting traits, including 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase, acid phosphatase and phytase activity, siderophore production, and P solubilization. HMs were more available in mine tailing soil inoculated soil with PDR-28 than in uninoculated soil; the order of HM bioleaching was Cd>As>Zn>Pb>Cu. PDR-28 effectively removed HMs in the order of Pb>Cd>As>Zn>Cu from liquid media containing 100mgHML-1. Inoculating HM-contaminated mine tailing soil with the fungus significantly increased the dry biomass of maize roots (64%) and shoots (56%). Chlorophyll, total soluble sugars (reducible and nonreducible), starch, and protein contents increased by 46%, 28%, 30%, and 29%, respectively, compared to plants grown in uninoculated soil. Inoculation increased heavy metal concentrations in maize roots by 25% (Cu) to 62% (Cd) and in shoots by 35% (Cu) to 64% (Pb) compared to uninoculated plants. Results suggest that PDR-28 would be beneficial for phytostabilization and plant biomass production as a potential source of biofuel in the quest for renewable energy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)129-134
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Environmental Management
Volume132
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2014

Keywords

  • Bioenergy
  • Bioleaching
  • Mine
  • Phytoremediation
  • Phytostabilization
  • Trichoderma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Trichoderma virens PDR-28: A heavy metal-tolerant and plant growth-promoting fungus for remediation and bioenergy crop production on mine tailing soil'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this