Effect of Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria on the Mobility of Insoluble Cadmium and Metabolic Analysis

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) can promote plant growth by dissolving insoluble phosphate. Therefore, PSB may have the potential to improve the mobility of heavy metals in soils and enhance phytoextraction. This study isolated a few PSB strains that could dissolve CdCO₃ and solid Cd in soil. Two typical PSB, namely, high- and low-Cd-mobilizing PSB ( gim-3 and qh-35, respectively), were selected to analyze the metabolic profiles, metabolic pathways, and mechanisms of mobilization of insoluble Cd. A total of 34 metabolites secreted by the two PSB strains were identified. Gluconic acid was the main contributor to Cd dissolution (42.4%) in high-Cd-mobilizing PSB. By contrast, gluconic acid was not secreted in low-Cd-mobilizing PSB. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that gluconic acid was produced by the peripheral direct oxidation pathway. Hence, PSB with peripheral direct oxidation pathway were likely to have high-Cd-mobilizing capacity.