Paper in International Journal of Phytoremediation

Paper in International Journal of Phytoremediation

Title: “Characterization and degradation potential of diesel-degrading bacterial strains for application in bioremediation”. Partners involved: IIAG-CSIC, USC. Publication data: María Balseiro-Romero, Panagiotis Gkorezis, Petra S. Kidd, Jonathan Van Hamme, Nele Weyens, Carmen Monterroso & Jaco Vangronsveld (2017) International Journal of Phytoremediation. doi: 10.1080/15226514.2017.1337065 Abstract: Bioremediation of polluted soils is a promising technique with low environmental impact, which uses soil organisms to degrade soil contaminants.

In this study, 19 bacterial strains isolated from a diesel-contaminated soil were screened for diesel-degrading potential, biosurfactant production, and biofilm formation abilities, all desirable characteristics when selecting strains for re-inoculation into hydrocarbon-contaminated soils. Diesel degradation rates were determined in vitro in minimal medium with diesel as the sole carbon source. The capacity to degrade diesel range organics (DRO) of strains SPG23 (Arthobacter sp.) and PF1 (Acinetobacter oleivorans) reached 17-26% of total DRO after 10 days, and 90% for strain GK2 (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus). The amount and rate of alkane degradation decreased significantly with increasing carbon number for SPG23 and PF1. Strain GK2, which produced biosurfactants and biofilms, exhibited a greater extent, and faster rate of alkane degradation compared to SPG23 and PF1. Based on the outcomes of degradation experiments, in addition to biosurfactant production, biofilm formation capacities, and previous genome characterizations, strain GK2 is a promising candidate for microbial-assisted phytoremediation of diesel-contaminated soils. These results are of particular interest to select suitable strains for bioremediation, not only presenting high diesel degradation rates, but also other characteristics which could improve rhizosphere colonization.