Role of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) for Bioremediation of Heavy Metals

Abstract

The heavy metal pollution problem is all over the world. Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) has transformed heavy metals present in the soil, which removes and minimizes their toxic effects. This chapter highlights the role of PGPB for remediation of heavy metals, their mechanism of action, and their applications approach of hyperaccumulation. Further, it also highlights the role of uptake and detoxification of metals by cellular mechanisms which facilitate the bioremediation of heavy metals from contaminated areas. Bacteria may also enhance nutrient uptake, increasing plant growth and defenses while diminish heavy metals intake and their toxic effects. Therefore, this chapter focuses on the mechanisms by which microorganisms can mobilize or immobilize metals in soils and the bioremediation strategies are addressed for the improvement of phytoextraction as an innovative process for enhancement of heavy metals removal from soil.