| Title | Characterization of the belowground microbial community in a poplar-phytoremediation strategy of a multi-contaminated soil |
| Abstract | Due to their widespread use in industrial applications in recent decades, Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals (HMs) are the most common soil contaminants worldwide, posing a risk for both ecosystems and human health. In this study, a poplar-assisted bioremediation strategy has been applied for more than four years to a historically contaminated area (PCBs and HMs) in Southern Italy using the Monviso poplar clone. This clone was effective in promoting a decrease in all contaminants and an increase in soil quality in terms of organic carbon and microbial abundance. Moreover, a significant shift in the structure and predicted function of the belowground microbial community was also observed when analysing both DNA and cDNA sequencing data. In fact, an increase in bacterial genera belonging to Proteobacteria able to degrade PCBs and resist HMs was observed. Moreover, the functional profiling of the microbial community predicted by PICRUSt2 made it possible to identify several genes associated with PCB transformation (e.g. bphAa, bphAb, bphB, bphC), response to HM oxidative stress (e.g. catalase, superoxide reductase, peroxidase) and HM uptake and expulsion (e.g. ABC transporters). This work demonstrated the effectiveness of the poplar clone Monviso in stimulating the natural belowground microbial community to remove contaminants and improve the overall soil quality. It is a practical example of a nature based solution involving synergic interactions between plants and the belowground microbial community. |
| Source | Frontiers in microbiology |
| Keywords | Bioremediationpolychlorobiphenylsheavy metalsnature based solutionDNA and cDNA Illumina sequencing |
| Journal | Frontiers in microbiology |
| Editor | Frontiers Research Foundation,, Lausanne, Svizzera |
| Year | 2020 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.3389/fmicb.2020.02073 |
| Authors | Anna Barra Caracciolo, Paola Grenni, Gian Luigi Garbini, Ludovica Rolando, Claudia Campanale, Giorgia Aimola, Manuel Fernandez-Lopez, Antonio José Fernandez-Gonzalez, Pablo José Villadas, Valeria Ancona |
| Text | 427309 2020 10.3389/fmicb.2020.02073 Bioremediation polychlorobiphenyls heavy metals nature based solution DNA and cDNA Illumina sequencing Characterization of the belowground microbial community in a poplar phytoremediation strategy of a multi contaminated soil Anna Barra Caracciolo, Paola Grenni, Gian Luigi Garbini, Ludovica Rolando, Claudia Campanale, Giorgia Aimola, Manuel Fernandez Lopez, Antonio Jose Fernandez Gonzalez, Pablo Jose Villadas, Valeria Ancona 1 National Research Council, Water Research Institute, Montelibretti Rome , Italy 2 National Research Council, Water Research Institute, Bari, Italy 3 Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas CSIC Zaidin Experimental Station, Granada, Spain 4 Department of Ecological and Biological Science DEB Tuscia University , Viterbo, Italy Due to their widespread use in industrial applications in recent decades, Polychlorobiphenyls PCBs and heavy metals HMs are the most common soil contaminants worldwide, posing a risk for both ecosystems and human health. In this study, a poplar assisted bioremediation strategy has been applied for more than four years to a historically contaminated area PCBs and HMs in Southern Italy using the Monviso poplar clone. This clone was effective in promoting a decrease in all contaminants and an increase in soil quality in terms of organic carbon and microbial abundance. Moreover, a significant shift in the structure and predicted function of the belowground microbial community was also observed when analysing both DNA and cDNA sequencing data. In fact, an increase in bacterial genera belonging to Proteobacteria able to degrade PCBs and resist HMs was observed. Moreover, the functional profiling of the microbial community predicted by PICRUSt2 made it possible to identify several genes associated with PCB transformation e.g. bphAa, bphAb, bphB, bphC , response to HM oxidative stress e.g. catalase, superoxide reductase, peroxidase and HM uptake and expulsion e.g. ABC transporters . This work demonstrated the effectiveness of the poplar clone Monviso in stimulating the natural belowground microbial community to remove contaminants and improve the overall soil quality. It is a practical example of a nature based solution involving synergic interactions between plants and the belowground microbial community. Postprint 06/08/2020 Articolo in rivista Frontiers Research Foundation, 1664 302X Frontiers in microbiology Frontiers in microbiology Front. microbiol. Frontiers in microbiology claudiacampanale CAMPANALE CLAUDIA ROLANDO LUDOVICA GARBINI GIAN LUIGI AIMOLA GIORGIA anna.barracaracciolo BARRA CARACCIOLO ANNA paola.grenni GRENNI PAOLA valeria.ancona ANCONA VALERIA |
