Effect of tungsten-resistant bacteria on uptake of tungsten by lettuce and tungsten speciation in plants

•Tungsten-resistant bacteria enhanced translocation of W from root to shoot.•Tungsten in plant existed as a mixture of tungsten(IV) and tungsten(VI).•Tungsten accumulated as polytungstate in root and monotungstate in shoot.•Tungsten-resistant bacteria inoculation induced microbial community shift in soil. Tungsten is an emerging contaminant because of its potential toxicity to humans. However, tungsten-plant-microbe interactions remains unknown. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of tungsten-resistant bacteria on tungsten species in plants and microbial community structure in soil. Although bacterial inoculation did not affect lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth or tungsten uptake via root, tungsten-resistant bacteria increased translocation of tungsten from root to shoot. Bacterial inoculation slightly oxidized tungsten in lettuce based on tungsten L3 x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES). Tungsten in lettuce roots and shoots grown in tungsten(VI)-spiked soil existed as a mixture of tungsten(IV) and tungsten(VI). Tungsten accumulated as polytungstate in the root and monotungstate in the shoot. Inoculation with tungsten-resistant bacteria and plant growth increased microbial diversity in tungsten-contaminated soil. In tungsten-spiked soils without plants, metal-resistant or reducing bacteria were found while bacteria growing in rhizosphere were detected in soils supporting plant growth. These results indicate a role of the bacteria and plants in phytoremediation of tungsten-contaminated soil.