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Impact of energy metabolism pathways in promoting phytoremediation of cadmium contamination by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Bam1

Summary

Researchers developed genetically modified bacteria (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) that produce more energy to better survive in cadmium-contaminated soil. These enhanced bacteria can then help tomato plants absorb and remove cadmium pollution from the soil more effectively. The best-performing modified strain increased cadmium accumulation in tomatoes by nearly 1.9 times compared to the original bacteria, offering a promising biological solution for cleaning contaminated agricultural soils.

Background

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soil poses a significant threat to ecosystems and food safety. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) combined with remediation plants offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to Cd remediation. However, PGPR requires enhanced Cd resistance to effectively colonize contaminated soil and promote plant growth.

Objective

This study investigated the role of energy metabolism pathways in enhancing Cd resistance of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Bam1 and its capacity to promote phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil using tomatoes as the remediation plant. The research aimed to identify key genes in energy production pathways and construct recombinant strains with enhanced Cd resistance.

Results

All three recombinant strains showed significantly enhanced Cd resistance with increased ATP production (1.77-3.15 times higher) and reduced ROS levels compared to wild-type Bam1. Bam1_fumC demonstrated the most effective colonization in Cd-contaminated soil and significantly improved tomato photosynthesis, growth, and Cd accumulation. Cd concentration in tomatoes treated with Bam1_fumC was 1.88 times higher than wild-type Bam1 treatment.

Conclusion

Energy metabolism pathway enhancement successfully improves PGPR Cd resistance and colonization capacity in contaminated soil. Bam1_fumC exhibited considerable potential as a bioaugmentation assistant for Cd-contaminated phytoremediation, offering a novel strategy for soil Cd pollution remediation through genetically engineered PGPR strains.
  • Published in:Bioresour Bioprocess,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 41207992, DOI: 10.1186/s40643-025-00972-8
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