PGPR-mediated alleviation of arsenic and cadmium toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.) through regulation of rhizosphere Microbiome and oxidative stress biomarkers
Seham Sater Alhelaify·Andrea Mastinu·Eman Mohammed Fayad·Dalal Nasser Binjawhar·Mohammed Alqurashi·Mohammed O. Alshaharni·Muneefah Abdullah Alenezi·Ohud Muslat Alharthy
Abstract Heavy metal contamination, particularly by arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd), severely impairs rice ( Oryza sativa L.) growth, physiological performance, and food safety. This study evaluated the effectiveness of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), including Rhizobium leguminosarum , Bacillus subtilis , and Serratia marcescens , in mitigating As and Cd toxicity in O. sativa under a controlled pot experiment. Plants exposed to individual As and Cd stress at 0, 100, and 200 mg kg⁻¹ e