Sustainable strategy to limit the translocation of arsenic in maize

PERALTA, JUAN MANUEL; BIANUCCI ELIANA; CLAUDIA TRAVAGLIA; FURLAN ANA; CASTRO STELLA

La Falda, Córdoba

Congreso; Sociedad de Biología de Córdoba - XXI Annual Scientific Meeting; 2017

Arsenic (As) constitutes a global environmental problem. Some areas of Córdoba´s groundwater presents As concentrations that exceedthe maximum allowed for drinking water (0.1 µM); this water can be absorbed by plants or be used for artificial irrigation. It is well-documented that maize interacts with strains belonging to the genus Azospirillum, which are able to promote plant growth. The aim of thisresearch was to elucidate the differential response of the interaction established with bacterial strains and maize exposed to a realistic doseof As (3 µM). The reference strains, A. brasilense AZ39 and A. brasilense CD, were able to grow at As concentrations almost 500-foldhigher than that found in the plant. Regardless of the inoculated strain, a significant reduction of growth was observed, accompanied byoxidative damage. Metalloid distribution pattern was similar between tested strains; remarkably, maize inoculation with A. brasilense AZ39revealed a significant lower translocation factor than A. brasilense CD, promoting As phytostabilization. In conclusion, A. brasilense AZ39is presented as the best inoculant for limiting metalloid translocation and accumulation to edible parts of the cereal, avoiding fruitcontamination.