Application of Endophytic Bacteria to Reduce Persistent Organic Pollutants Contamination in Plants

摘要

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) accumulation in plants poses a risk to human health. POPs can be transported to plants through soil and air by abiotic or biotic processes. Their transport mechanisms in plants include symplastic and apoplastic processes, depending on the POP physicochemical properties and the vegetation species and growth stage. POPs with higher log octanol–water partition coefficient (Kow) values were absorbed more easily than those with lower logKow values. Specific endophytic bacteria showed increased expression of specific genes, more efficient degradation of organic contaminants, and the ability to degrade and reduce organic contaminants in host-plant tissues. Several POP-degrading endophytic bacteria were isolated from plants grown in POP-contaminated soils and then inoculated successfully into plants. They expressed the genes encoding enzymes in the POP degradation pathways and reduced phytotoxicity and the amount of POP present in plant tissues. Thus, plant colonization by endophytic bacteria can be applied to degrading and reducing the concentration of POPs in plants.