Inoculated Seed Endophytes Modify the Poplar Responses to Trace Elements in Polluted Soil

Seed endophyte inoculation can enhance the plant tolerance to pollutants, which allows cultivation on trace element (TE) polluted soils. Methylobacterium sp. CP3 and Kineococcus endophyticus CP19 were tested in vitro for their Zn Cd growth promotion traits. The vivo effects of bioaugmentation with individual strains or both using two poplar cultivars, Populus deltoides x (P. trichocarpa P. maximowiczii) ‘Dender’ ‘Marke’, grown TE soil six weeks. was found grow media enriched 0.4 0.8 mM Cd, endophytes tolerated 0.6 1 Zn, due presence genes involved transport. showed an extracellular ion sequestration mechanism. Production indole-3-acetic acid by K. endophyticus, as well phosphorus solubilization observed. Bioaugmentation increased shoot length ‘Marke’ enhanced Mg uptake cultivars. Inoculation reduced bioaccumulation conferring it excluder strategy. seemed improve nutritional status, alleviate abiotic stress.