Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine whether the inoculation of plant growth-promoting bacteria to plants, vegetated in soil irrigated with textile effluent, influences plant biomass production, and soil remediation. Three different plant species (Acacia ampliceps, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Leucaena leucocephala) with and without bacterial inoculation were grown in soil irrigated with secondary treated textile wastewater for one year. An endophytic bacterium, Burkholderia sp. strain PsJN, possessing plant growth-promoting 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity was inoculated to plants. There was more plant biomass production (up to 12%) and contaminants removal (up to 29%) from soil with bacterial inoculation as compared to soil having non-inoculated plants. Enhanced plant growth and soil remediation activity are associated with the survival and colonization of the inoculated bacterium in the rhizosphere and endosphere of plants. The highest plant biomass production and contaminants removal from soil were observed in the treatment, in which A. ampliceps was inoculated with Burkholderia sp. strain PsJN. These results suggest that plant-bacteria partnerships can be applied to improve plant growth and soil remediation during the application of industrial effluent for plant biomass production in the arid regions.