New isolation method of desiccation-tolerant microorganisms for the bioremediation of arid and semiarid soils

Abstract

In arid and semiarid regions, the establishment of microorganisms and plants for the bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is further impeded by a number of physicochemical factors including low precipitation, high evaporation, high winds and extreme temperatures. These factors contribute to the extremely low water content in soil and reduce the survival of most of the microbial isolates with a role in the bioremediation of soils. We have developed a new technology based on the ability of anhydrobiotic microorganisms to withstand desiccation and the remarkable stability they display in a dried state. Because of their ability to survive without water and to promote plant growth under water stressing conditions, we have used this tolerance for the isolation of a collection of new desiccation-tolerant microorganisms that could be useful for the treatment of PAH-polluted soils in arid and semiarid regions.