Sunflower growth and tolerance to arsenic is increased by the rhizospheric bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens

Phytoremediation is not a very well known process. Some of the mechanisms involved in accumulation and detoxification of the metals are still unidentified. Anywhere, the role of soil microbes in the improvement of the phytoremediation technique seems to be very important. The bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens had a quite positive influence on sunflower plant growth and arsenic accumulation. The plants grown in presence of arsenic showed a reduction in growth with a decrease in leave surface, height, fresh and dry weight. In the treatments with inoculated Ps. fluorescens was observed a higher growth rate of the plants, compared with not inoculated treatments.