Dark septate endophyte inoculation improved Pb phytoremediation of Jatropha curcas and Reutealis trisperma on gold mine tailings

This study investigated the symbiotic potential of Jatropha curcas and Reutealis trisperma with two isolates of dark septate endophyte (DSE) fungi (Cladosporium sp. and Rhyzopycnis vagum) grown on gold mine tailings media based on their ability to remediate Pb and their morphological, physiological, and anatomical changes. The targeted plants were grown for 12 weeks on different media contained mixed soil and compost, gold mine tailings, and tailing with additional charcoal. The result showed that DSE inoculation increased the height of J. curcas up to 24.1% in contaminated soil compared to control treatment without DSE. All DSE fungi were able to colonize both root plant even under gold mine tailing treatment. DSE inoculation increased chlorophyll content of both plants ranging from 11% to 33% compared to the plants without DSE. Jatropha curcas inoculated with DSE had the potential to be used as phytoremediation plant with a phytoextraction mechanism indicated by higher translocation factor (TF) value. Meanwhile, the R. trisperma was able to be used for phytoremediation categorized as phytostabilization due to lower TF values. The results of this study highlighted the possible role of the DSE symbiotic with J. curcas and R. trisperma to improve the efficiency of phytoremediation in contaminated lands.