coral bacteria used in agriculture (jack tyler)

Heavy metal contamination is a big problem for agricultural businesses due to the fact that heavy metals decrease in microbial activity and productivity of the crops. These heavy metals are essential to life at low concentrations however are poisonous at higher concentrations as well as to top consumers in the food chain via bioaccumulation, including humans. Bacteria have been identified as the most important biosorbents used for metal detoxification.  

This study examines potential detoxification efficiency of heavy metals by phosphate solubilizing bacteria isolated from coral, sea grass and mangrove environment. Out of 42 strains found, 4 were selected based on solubilization index for metal tolerance test. KSCAS2 exhibited maximum tolerance to heavy metal due to the fact that it has extracellular metal ions in amorphous. Percentages of metal removal varied depending on the metal in question (55%-77%). When initial concentration was doubled, removal capacity decreased (44%-67%). KSCAS2 showed tolerance up to 500 mg/L for individual metals and up to 200 mg/L in combination metals. Bioabsorption capacity supported by SEM and FTIR 

KSCAS2 was suggested to be Cronobacter muytjensii due to the low growth inhibition, high metal tolerance and good phosphate solubilising capability as well as molecular analysis of 16S rRna sequencing. No previous study on the heavy metal resistance of this bacterium has been carried out. It is believed to be an opportunistic pathogen, however the results of this study would suggest that it would be an efficient method of cleaning agricultural soil of heavy metals due to its strong ability to absorb these heavy metals as well as being easy to culture, enabling a great quantity of them to be produced and for relatively cheap. 

This study is interesting because it shows how the marine environment can be useful in finding novel ways to make human life more efficient. As so much of the marine environment is undiscovered or still a mystery, the potential for there to be useful bacteria is endless. 

Paper reviwed: 

Saranya, K., Sundaramanickam, A., Shekhar, S., Meena, M., Sathishkumar, R. S., & Balasubramanian, T. (2018). Biosorption of multi-heavy metals by coral associated phosphate solubilising bacteria Cronobacter muytjensii KSCAS2. Journal of Environmental Management,222, 396-401. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.05.083