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Selected rhizobacteria strains improved the tolerance of Vicia faba plants to microcystins contaminated irrigation water and reduced human health risk

Summary

Farmers in semi-arid regions like Morocco often irrigate crops with water containing toxic cyanobacterial compounds called microcystins, which accumulate in food crops and harm human health. This study showed that inoculating faba bean plants with beneficial soil bacteria, particularly Achromobacter marplatensis, reduced microcystin accumulation in plants by 36% and promoted healthier plant growth despite contaminated water. The approach offers an affordable, sustainable solution to protect food crops in areas with microcystin-contaminated irrigation water.

Background

Irrigation with water from lake-reservoirs in semi-arid regions like Morocco often contains toxic cyanobacterial blooms that produce microcystins, which contaminate crops and pose human health risks. Conventional microcystin removal methods are costly and incomplete. Microbial bioremediation using rhizobacteria offers a sustainable alternative approach.

Objective

To evaluate the potential of selected rhizobacteria strains with microcystin tolerance and plant growth-promoting traits to mitigate microcystin-induced phytotoxicity and reduce toxin accumulation in Vicia faba plants under environmentally relevant contamination levels.

Results

Achromobacter marplatensis (T4) provided the strongest protection, reducing microcystin accumulation by 36% compared to uninoculated plants and enhancing root biomass, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and nitrogen assimilation. All treatments resulted in estimated daily intake values below WHO safety thresholds, indicating low health risk.

Conclusion

Soil-based inoculation with targeted rhizosphere bacteria, particularly A. marplatensis, provides an effective strain-specific, sustainable bioremediation strategy to protect plants from microcystin-induced damage, maintain crop productivity, and ensure food safety in microcystin-contaminated regions.
  • Published in:Environmental Science and Pollution Research International,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 41266907, DOI: 10.1007/s11356-025-37185-7
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