Microbial communities in the rhizosphere of different willow genotypes affect phytoremediation potential in Cd contaminated soil

Guobing Wang^a,b, Qingquan Zhang^a,b, Wenchao Duc, Fuxun Ai^a,b, Ying Yina,b, Rong Ji^a,b, Hongyan Guo^a,b

State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China.

Abstract

Plant-associated microorganisms play an important role in controlling heavy metal uptake and accumulation in aerial parts. The microbial community and its interaction with Cd accumulation by willow were assessed to explore the association of phytoextraction efficiency and rhizospheric microbial populations. Therefore, the rhizosphere microbial compositions of three willow genotypes grown in two Cd polluted sites were investigated, focusing on their interactions with phytoremediation potential. Principal coordinate analysis revealed a significant effect of genotype on the rhizosphere microbial communities. Distinct beneficial microorganisms, such as plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) and mycorrhizal fungi, were assembled in the rhizosphere of different willow genotypes. Linear mixed models showed that the relative abundance of PGPB was positively associated (p < 0.01) with Cd accumulation, since these microbes significantly increased willow growth. The higher abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere of Salix × aureo-pendula CL ‘J1011’ at the Kejing site, showed a negative correlation with the Cd content, but a positive correlation with biomass. Conversely, mycorrhizal fungi, were more abundant in the rhizosphere of S. × jiangsuensis CL. ‘J2345’ and positively correlated with the Cd content in willow tissues. This study provides new insights into the distinctive microbial communities in rhizosphere of different willow genotypes, which may be consistent with the phytoremediation potential.

Keywords: Phytoremediation, Microbial community, Plant growth promoting bacteria, Mycorrhiza fungi.