Pyrene biodegradation in an industrial soil exposed to simulated rhizodeposition: how does it affect functional microbial abundance?

Rhizodeposition is an important biogeochemical process for the phytoremediation of contaminated substrates. This study investigated the effects of various rhizodeposition components from celery (Apium graveolens) on pyrene biodegradation and microbial abundance in a long-term contaminated soil. Batch microcosms simulating in situ contaminated soil were amended with lipophilic extract, water-soluble extract, or debris from celery root to mimic plant rhizodeposition within 70 days. Soil was intermittently analyzed for pyrene concentration and target gene abundance estimated by real-time PCR. Lipophilic extract was the major simulated rhizodeposit enhancing pyrene biodegradation, while water-soluble extract stimulated microbial growth most efficiently. The relative abundance of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degraders was enhanced by lipophilic extract but inhibited by the other two rhizodeposits, indicating that these components exerted different selective pressures on PAH degrader community. Moreover, PAH catabolic pathway may involve in the pollutant detoxification and fatty acid metabolism by microorganisms, which were also affected by rhizodeposition. These results provide insights into plant-microbe interactions responsible for PAH biodegradation and offer opportunities to facilitate PAH phytoremediation in industrial sites.