Actinomycetes as a Possible Source of Bioremediation of Heavy Metal Cadmium from Contaminated Soil

Abstract

Annually, a significant volume of chemicals, encompassing fertilizers and pesticides, is administered to agricultural soils. Using pesticides and fertilizers, agricultural practices contribute to heavy metal Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) pollution. Heavy metals and pesticides are high at the peak of ecological contaminants, presence of this has introduced grave risks to the health of the population and agronomics. Among heavy metals, cadmium (Cd) is recognized for its high mobility in various environmental settings. Cd has a deleterious effect on plant phenotypic, cytotoxicity (e.g., lowering chlorophyll concentration and limiting photosynthetic effectiveness), and metabolic activities (e.g., chlorosis and necrosis). Microbial bioremediation by using microorganisms is one of the secure, pure, cost operative and eco-friendly technology for decontaminating polluting sites as compared to physical and chemical techniques. Among microbes, Actinobacteria hold a paramount position, serving as key players in numerous biological processes, utilize toxins as carbon source and turn into high concentrations of pesticides, chemical complexes and heavy metals into commercially viable antibiotics, enzymes, proteins, and plant growth promoting hormones. This study is an effort to explore the potent cadmium resistance actinomycetes to reduce cadmium levels to enhance degradation. For this purpose, 53 actinomycetes strains were tested for heavy metal resistance and tolerance to Cadmium against different concentrations. After secondary screening Four potent isolate have the potential to grow at 1000 mg/L concentration of Cadmium in the medium. When they are able to grow on heavy metal containing media it could be beneficial for reduction and elimination of toxic metals from contaminated environment. When it comes to achieving a suitable level of metal tolerance, this potent powerful actinomycetes strain Streptomyces pactum have been identified to be promising.