Moreira, HelenaPereira, Sofia I.Vega, Alberto L.Castro, Paula M. L.Marques, Ana P. G. C.2025-09-152025-09-152014-07-01Moreira, H., Pereira, S. I., Vega, A. L., & Castro, P. M. L. et al. (2014). Growth promotional traits of three PGPR: possible uses for phytoremediation of degraded soils. Poster session presented at International Congress on Phytoremediation of Polluted Soils, Vigo, Spain.d917f936-393f-415f-ba7d-0ce95e4f08a5http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/54860Scope and aims: Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPR) play a key role in the establishment of plants in degraded areas, improving their health and growth through a variety of mechanisms: i) antibiotic production, such as cyanide (HCN) which protects plants from diseases; Iii) siderophores synthesis, which can solubilize unavailable metals and provide it to plants; iii) phytohormones (e.g. IAA – indole acetic acid) synthesis, which can enhance plant growth; iv) phosphorus solubilization, which makes it more readily available for the plant; v) enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane – 1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase production, which can lower plant ethylene levels by hydrolyzing ACC in ammonia and ?-ketobutyrate and thereby provide some protection against the inhibitory effects of various stresses. These bacteria can be used in remediation strategies helping plants to deal with environmental stresses, such as metal contamination and high salinization of soils. However, the growth-promoting traits present in PGPR may be disrupted or significantly decreased by metal and salt exposure. The aims of the present work were to assess the influence of PGPR inoculation on seed vigour index of Zea mays and determine the growth promoting traits in medium supplemented with increasing concentrations of Zn, Cd and NaCl. Conclusions: Metal type and concentration, as well as NaCl concentrations affect growth promoting traits of PGPR, and therefore the exhibition of growth-promoting traits in non-ammended medium may not be conclusive for further applications in degraded land. In vitro testing at the target levels of exposure as well as in vivo studies with the desired plants are necessary prior to drawing a PGPR-aided remediation strategies.engconference poster not in proceedings