Bacteria associated with Zn-hyperaccumulators Arabidopsis halleri and Arabidopsis arenosa from Zn-Pb-Cd waste heaps in Poland as promising tools for bioremediation.

To identify metal adapted bacteria equipped with traits positively influencing the growth of two hyperaccumulator plant species Arabidopsis arenosa and Arabidopsis halleri, we isolated bacteria inhabiting rhizosphere and vegetative tissues (roots, basal and stem leaves) of plants growing on two old Zn-Pb-Cd waste heaps in Bolesław and Bukowno (S. Poland), and characterized their potential plant growth promoting (PGP) traits as well as determined metal concentrations in rhizosphere and plant tissues. To determine taxonomic position of 144 bacterial isolates, 16S rDNA Sanger sequencing was used.