Synergistic effect of ACC deaminase producing Pseudomonas sp. TR15a and siderophore producing Bacillus aerophilus TR15c for enhanced growth and copper accumulation in Helianthus annuus L

Copper (Cu) is an essential element, however it’s excess into the environment causes detrimental effect on plant and risks for public health. Four Cu drought tolerant 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase producing rhizobacteria were isolated from roots of Trifolium repens L. growing smelter contaminated soils, characterized identified based 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A consortium high ACC (53.74 μM α-ketobutyrate mg−1 protein h−1) bacteria Pseudomonas sp. strain TR15a + siderophore Bacillus aerophilus TR15c significantly (p < 0.05) produced better results multiple-metal tolerance including (1750 mg kg−1), antibiotic resistance (ampicillin, kanamycin, chloramphenicol, penicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin) growth promoting attributes (phosphate solubilization: 315 L−1, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production: 8 ammonia hydrogen cyanide production) as compared to individual isolates. Pot scale experiment (enriched with 100 kg−1) showed inoculation Helianthus annuus seeds had improved seed germination by 32%, total dry biomass 64%, root 47% shoot 75% uninoculated control whereas 0.2−7 fold higher observed above stated parameters four isolates studied. The result suggests B. could play a vital role in enhanced uptake improvement may provide alternative decontamination natural ecosystem than