Evaluation of phytoremediation potential by rhizospheric bacteria of Parthenium hysterophorus growing on disposed distillery sludge for ecorestoration of polluted site.

This study investigates the role of rhizospheric bacteria in enhancing the phytoremediation capacity of Parthenium hysterophorus growing on distillery sludge, aiming at the ecorestoration of polluted environments. Physicochemical analysis revealed notable reductions in pollutants, with salts decreasing to 15.74-53.79 mg/kg and metals reduced by 28.69-80.26 mg/kg. GC-MS profiling of fresh and 50-day-old plant tissues indicated bioconversion and disappearance of several distillery-derived organic pollutants, underscoring the plant's ability to degrade and transform contaminants. Metal analysis showed bioaccumulation in roots, shoots, and leaves, with bioconcentration factors (BCF > 1) for Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cr, and translocation factors (TF > 1) for Fe, Zn, Mn, Ni, and Pb, confirming strong phytoextraction potential. Furthermore, phytostabilization of Cu and Cr was observed. Transmission electron microscopy of roots revealed dense metal deposits in the cytoplasm, along with structural adaptations such as multi-vacuoles, mitochondria, and chloroplasts, indicating high tolerance to metal stress. The rhizospheric bacterial community, dominated by Alcaligenes faecalis, Cytobacillus firmus, Bacillus subtilis, and Niallia circulans, exhibited plant growth-promoting traits that support remediation. Overall, the findings highlight P. hysterophorus as an effective candidate for phytoremediation and bacterial-assisted eco-restoration of industrially contaminated sites.