Influence of the zinc hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens J. & C. Presl.and the nonmetal accumulator Trifolium pratense L. on soil microbial populations

Metal hyperaccumulator plants like Thlaspi caerulescens J. & C. Presl. are used for phytoremediation of contaminated soils. Since little is known abou t the rhizosphere of hyperaccumulators, the influence of T. caerulescens wa s compared with the effects of Trifolium pratense L. on soil microbes. High - and low-metal soils were collected near a zinc smelter in Palmerton, Penn . Soil pH was adjusted to 5.8 and 6.8 by the addition of Ca(OH)(2). Liming increased bacterial populations and decreased metal toxicity to levels allo wing growth of both plants. The effects of the plants on total (culturable) bacteria, total fungi, as well as cadmium- and zinc-resistant populations were assessed in nonrhizosphere and rhizosphere soil. Both plants increased microbial populations in rhizosphere soil compared with nonrhizosphere soi l. Microbial populations were higher in soils planted with T. pratense, but higher ratios of metal-resistant bacteria were found in the presence of T. caerulescens. We hypothesize that T. caerulescens acidifies its rhizospher e. Soil acidification in the rhizosphere of T. caerulescens would affect me tal uptake by increasing available metals around the roots and consequently , increase the selection for metal-resistant bacteria. Soil acidification m ay be part of the hyperaccumulation process enhancing metal uptake from soi l.