Metagenomic and genomic characterization of heavy metal tolerance and resistance genes in the rhizosphere microbiome of Avicennia germinans in a semi-arid mangrove forest in the tropics.

Mangroves are often exposed to heavy metals that accumulate in the food chain, generate toxicity to mangrove plants and affect microbial diversity. This study determined the abundance of genes associated with resistance and tolerance to heavy metals in the rhizosphere microbiome of Avicennia germinans from a semi-arid mangrove of La Guajira-Colombia by metagenomics and genomics approach. Twenty-eight genes associated with tolerance and 49 genes related to resistance to heavy metals were detected.