Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

An extremely relevant phytoremediation trend is degradation of hydrocarbon pollutants in soil (petroleumand refining products). Perrennial legume grasses Galegaeorientalis Lam. and alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L. ) were used as phytoremediants restoring biological activity of soil affected by petroleumor its fractions. Plant productivity is grounded on symbiosis with nodulating bacteria Sinorhizobiummeliloti and Rhizobium galegae . The latter is able to consume oil as the sole carbon source. Petroleumcontent in liquid mineral medium (0.5 and 1 %, v/v) fell in 3 months under the impact of nodulating bacteria by 97.4% and 97.8%, respectively. Successful 5-month performance of plant-microbial association R.galegae-Galegaeorientalis Lam. in trials with 0.5% oil concentration reduced its soil level by 86%, whereas in variants with 1% oil concentration the pollutant load dropped by 61%.Presowing treatment of alfalfa seeds with microorganisms promoted 1% oil decomposition in sod-podzol soil during cultivation of the legume crop.Inoculation of alfalfa seeds with nodulating bacteria S. meliloti intensified oil degradation by 13.8% as compared to the control. Seed exposure to phosphate-mobilizing bacteria Serratiaplymuthica increased oil detoxification rate in soil by 28.4 %. Maximum efficiency of oil disposal was recorded upon application of plant- microbial association S. meliloti + S.plymuthica + Medicagosativawhen 58.47% acceleration of the process was achieved.

Biography

Z Aleschenkova is the Head, laboratory of soil microorganisms, plants interactions, Institute of Microbiology, Belarus National Academy of Sciences. She completed her PhD degree in Microbiology. Her Scientific interests: Soil microorganisms-plants interactions, phytoremediation of contaminated soil, development of microbial preparations stimulating growth of cultivars and decomposition of xenobiotics.She is the author of 250 publications and 18 patents. During the last 5 years she coordinated development of 5 biotechnological products promoting plant growth and contributing to environmental protection.