Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVII, Issue 2
Written by Irinah RATSIZAFY, Cătălina VOAIDEŞ, Oana-Alina BOIU-SICUIA, Voarisoa Sandrine RANDRIANANTENAINA, Mendrika RAKOTONINDRINA, Martial Doret ANDRIANANDRASANA, Rondro Harinisainana BAOHANTA, Adamson Tsoushima Ernest RAZAKATIANA, Heriniaina RAMANANKIERANA
This study was focused on nine rhizobial strains associated with Mimosa latispinosa, a fast-growing pioneer species native to the Mandena mining site and able to thrive on post-mining soils. The objectives were to: (i) evaluate the heavy metals tolerance of these isolates by comparing their growth on medium supplemented with different concentrations of heavy metals (Ni, Cd, Cu, and Pb); and (ii) screen the presence of the heavy metal resistance genes on the isolated DNA. While all the strains tested showed varying degrees of tolerance to the metals tested, significantly greater tolerance was observed for isolates RMN 4, RMN 5, RR 11 and RR 14. Regarding the presence of genes responsible for heavy metal resistance, only strains RMN 4, RMN 6 and RR 13 presented the specific amplicons in the case of pcoR gene amplification. The amplification of heavy metals resistance genes for other samples did not yield any specific PCR amplicons, probably due to the use of inappropriate primers or the presence of different mechanisms that allow them to survive under stress conditions.
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