Page 38 - AJWEP-v22i2

Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution. Vol. 22, No. 2 (2025), pp. 32-42.
doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025040021

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Testing the ability of Vetiveria zizanioides plants to bind
cadmium and its influence on soil microbial diversity

Aida Abdali Dehdezi , Ebrahim Alaei * , Pejman Azadi , Mahmoud Shavandi 4
3
1
2
, and Seyed Amir Mousavi 5
1 Department of Horticulture, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Environment and Biotechnology Research Division, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Genetic Engineering, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran, Agricultural Research,
Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran
4 Ecology and Environmental Pollution Control Research Group, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, West Blvd. of
Azadi Sport Complex, Tehran, Iran
5 Department of Plant Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
*Corresponding author: Ebrahim Alaei (alaiee@ripi.ir)

Received: January 22, 2025; Revised: February 19, 2025; Accepted: February 28, 2025 Published Online: March 27, 2025

Abstract: Phytoremediation is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach for the remediation of
heavy metals from contaminated environments. However, its effectiveness can be influenced by various factors,
particularly the structure and diversity of soil microbial communities, which play a crucial role in enhancing
or hindering the phytoremediation process. In this study, the remediation of cadmium-contaminated soil was
investigated through the cultivation of Vetiveria zizanioides, examining its effects on the diversity of soil microbial
communities. The concentration of Cd in roots and leaves reached more than 600 mg/kg DW and 400 mg/kg DW,
respectively, at 60 mg/kg Cd treatment. Next-generation sequencing was used to characterize the soil microbial
community. It was shown that the increased Cd contaminant from 20 mg/kg to 60 mg/kg of soil noticeably
reduced the microbial count. A significant increase in species numbers was observed in the clean soil containing
the V. zizanioides plants. In addition, soil samples from Cd-contaminated soil showed a considerable change in
microbial structure at the genus level with the Sphingomonas bacteria becoming the most dominant genus against
Cd-contamination.

Keywords: Phytoremediation; Cadmium remediation; Soil microbial composition; Soil contamination; Vetiveria
zizanioides; Sphingomonas

1. Introduction and organic pollutants has led to the degradation of
vast areas of urban and agricultural land worldwide.
1
Soil is a vital component of ecosystems and Industrial activities, particularly from sectors such as
significantly contributes to the sustainability of human mining and petroleum, have been identified as major
populations. Over the years, researchers have been contributors to the release of toxic heavy metals
investigating methods for the prevention and treatment (HMs) into the soil, negatively affecting soil fertility,
of contaminated soils, with significant progress made microbial activity, and agricultural productivity. As this
2
since 1985. Soil contamination with various inorganic contamination becomes a pervasive global issue, it is

Volume 22 Issue 2 (2025) 32 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025040021