The role of rhizospheric microbes of giant reed
(
Arundo donax
L.) in Cr uptake from hydroponic culture
was investigated. The control group was exposed to Cr in
range of 25–100 mg L
-1 containing a control itself (with
no metal addition). The experimental group received same
Cr treatments, but in addition was exposed to antibiotic
treatment in order to inhibit rhizospheric bacteria. The
range of Cr accumulated in the roots was 3–7.65 mg L
-1;
in stem it ranged 2.15–42.4 mg kg
-1; while in leaves, the
range of Cr content was 13.7–15 mg kg
-1. Overall, Cr
uptake in
A. donax (without rhizobacterial inhibition) was
root < leaf < stem. However, the amount of Cr uptake in
plants with rhizobacterial inhibition was significantly less
(~4.6-folds in 100 mg L
-1 Cr treatment) than those
without such inhibition clearly highlighting that rhizobacterial
inhibition decreased the Cr uptake. The experimental
results clearly demonstrated that the inhibition of the rhizobacterial
populations had great influence on the Cr
uptake. However, Cr uptake could not be completely
inhibited as some metal uptake was observed after the
rhizobacterial inhibition although it was significantly less
than the Cr uptake of plants without such inhibition.