# Resistance Mechanisms of Rhizospheric Bacillus and Pseudomonas Strains Against Heavy Metal Contamination (Cu, Cr and Cd) and Their Antifungal Properties

## TL;DR

This study explores how certain bacteria resist heavy metals and fight fungi, making them useful for cleaning polluted soil and controlling plant diseases.

## Contribution

The study identifies novel resistance mechanisms in Bacillus and Pseudomonas strains against heavy metals and evaluates their antifungal properties.

## Key findings

- Bacillus and Pseudomonas strains showed resistance to copper, chromium, and cadmium up to 500 µg/mL.
- Strains exhibited salinity tolerance, antibiotic resistance, and produced exopolysaccharides and biosurfactants.
- The bacteria inhibited fungal growth by up to 83.34%, showing potential as biocontrol agents.

## Abstract

Environmental pollution caused by persistent chemical compounds, particularly heavy metals, poses a significant global challenge. Current strategies focus on eco-friendly and sustainable approaches, such as the application of microorganisms, to mitigate this issue. In this study, four strains of Bacillus and Pseudomonas were phylogenetically identified and assessed for their resistance to three heavy metals: copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd) up to 500 µg/mL. Various tolerance mechanisms related to heavy metal resistance were elucidated, including salinity tolerance, antibiotic resistance, production of exopolysaccharides (EPS), and biosurfactant synthesis. The antifungal activities of these strains were evaluated against the fungal isolates Fusarium oxysporum fs. phaseoli (Fop) and Stemphylium botryosum (St-bt) using dual culture assays. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that three strains belong to the genus Bacillus, while one strain is classified under Pseudomonas. Additionally, these strains exhibited diverse mechanisms for heavy metal tolerance, including salinity tolerance (up to 600 mM), multi-antibiotic resistance (to imipenem, ampicillin, and sodium fusidate), and the production of viscous, slimy colonies indicative of EPS synthesis. Biosurfactant production led to a significant reduction in surface tension, ranging from 10.51 ± 3.87% to 82.89 ± 5.01%. The antifungal assays demonstrated that the strains effectively inhibited the mycelial growth of the fungal isolates, with inhibition percentages varying from 0% to 83.34 ± 2.22%. The strains characterized in this study exhibit considerable potential for application in the bioremediation of metal-contaminated soils and as biocontrol agents.