Abstract

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RHIZOBIUM FROM PEA PLANT AND TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF HEAVY METALS ON IT

Mandeep Kaur*

ABSTRACT

Development and implementation of sustainable techniques and biofertilization is of big importance in alleviating the deterioration of natural and environmental pollution. Rhizobium is an important microorganism for the environment because of its nitrogen fixing ability when in symbiotic relationship with plants. Isolation of rhizobium strain to stress such as heavy metals is very important for efficient nitrogen fixation and improving plants productivity especially in contaminated areas. The present study aimed to explore the inherited properties of bacterial strain to tolerance against multiple heavy metals along with sequestration potential for mercury, cadmium, nickel and lead. The current findings exhibited that the isolated bacteria were found to be Rhizobium leguminosarum. The results obtained further suggested that bacteria possessed best tolerance towards Ni than other three heavy metals Pb>Cd>Hg. This tolerance against high concentration of heavy metals made the rhizobia highly efficient in the process of the nitrogen fixation in leguminous plants.

Keywords: Heavy metals, Legumes, Nitrogen fixation, Rhizobium.