Title : Bacterial consortia promote tomato development and bioremediation in soils with heavy metal pollution
Abstract:
The use of wastewater in agriculture has emerged as an alternative to address water scarcity and ensure food security. While crops under these conditions can be negatively affected, they also offer potential for reducing heavy metal accumulation in soils. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are bacteria associated with roots that enhance plant development. This study evaluated the effect of three bacterial consortia on the germination, growth, and development of three tomato varieties, as well as their potential role in biological remediation of soils irrigated with wastewater. The research was conducted in three stages: first, seed viability was assessed under CuSO4 exposure, pre-germinative treatments, and bacterial inoculation; second, seedling vigor was determined; third, plants were grown in a greenhouse for 120 days in soil irrigated with wastewater. Germination was influenced by temperature, seed hydration, and storage time. Seedling responses in vitro and in the greenhouse were consistent. Consortia 1 and 3 positively affected seedling growth. In the greenhouse, consortium 1 enhanced stem length and diameter, root length and volume, and aerial biomass in R.G. 22. Consortium 3 promoted stem and root length, aerial biomass, and leaf area in R.G. 19. In R.N. 22, both consortia increased leaf number, root length and biomass, and aerial biomass compared to the control. These results demonstrate that selected bacterial consortia can effectively promote tomato growth and development, offering a sustainable strategy for enhancing crop productivity and supporting soil remediation in wastewater-irrigated systems.
