Cadmium Accumulation, Growth Performance and Antioxidant Properties of Bacterial Consortium Inoculated Mentha arvensis L. Grown in Polluted Soil

In the present study, growth performance, antioxidant activities and cadmium (Cd) accumulation in eco-friendly bacterial consortium inoculated Mentha arvensis grown in Cd contaminated soils were evaluated. Eco-friendly bacterial consortium inoculation significantly enhanced growth, biomass and antioxidant efficacy of M. arvensis plants grown in contaminated soil, i.e. wastewater irrigated and Cd-spiked soils over the non-inoculated plants (p < 0.05). Cd accumulation in roots, stems and leaves of M. arvensis inoculated with eco-friendly bacterial consortium decreased significantly as compared to plant without bacterial consortium (p < 0.05) in wastewater irrigated (5.3%, 48.5% and 5.8%, respectively) and Cd spiked (2.2%, 20.9% and 27.1%, respectively) soils. Thus, the present study concludes that application of Cd resistant eco-friendly bacterial consortium in polluted soils could be helpful in improving growth of M. arvensis and preventing entry of Cd in food chain.