• Shatrohan Lal
• Rajesh Kumar

Root-associated rhizobacteria and their ability to grow in the toxic metal polluted environment are of great interest; however, their potency to thrive in toxic metal contaminated sites and promote plant growth is still vague. The present study aimed to explore the possible mechanisms used by rhizobacteria to promote plant growth and enhanced metal uptake under Cd and Pb heavy metal stress, for this, Enterobacter cloacae strain PC3 was isolated from metal contaminated site and characterized for heavy metal tolerance and plant growth promoting attributes. Results revealed that rhizobacterial strain Enterobacter cloacae PC3 was showing resistant for 500 mg L-1 of Cd2+ ions and 500 mg L-1 of Pb2+ ions and exhibiting multiple PGP traits. Further, inoculation of strain PC3 with Zea mays L. increased total biomass under Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions stress. Increased biomass might be due to reduced oxidative stress caused by Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions through multiple PGP characteristics such as ACC, IAA, PO42+ solubilization and siderophore production by strain PC3. Moreover, rhizobacterial strain Enterobacter cloacae PC3 promoted available and exchangeable Cd2+ and Pb2+ metal ions concentration in rhizosphere demonstrated their potential to induced metal phytoextraction efficiency in Zea mays L. plants. Hence the findings of the study clearly indicated that Enterobacter cloacae strain PC3 could be a promising and sustainable tool for enhancing the efficiency of metal phytoremediation technology in heavy metal contaminated soil sites.

Cadmium; Lead; Zea mays; PGPR; Phytoremediation.

"Exploration of heavy metal resistant rhizobacteria Enterobacter cloacae PC3 to enhance growth and metal remediation potential of Zea mays L. under Cd and Pb stress", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no.576-587, June 2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1907D82.pdf

"Exploration of heavy metal resistant rhizobacteria Enterobacter cloacae PC3 to enhance growth and metal remediation potential of Zea mays L. under Cd and Pb stress", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no. pp576-587, June 2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1907D82.pdf