Microbial community variation in phytoremediation of triazophos by Canna indica Linn. in a hydroponic system

Phytoremediation of triazophos (O,O-diethyl-O-(1-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-base) sulfur phosphate, TAP) pollution by Canna indica Lim. in a hydroponic system has been well studied, whereas the microbial mechanism on TAP degradation is still unknown. The variation in microbial community compositions was investigated by analyzing phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) profiles in microbes under TAP exposure. The TAP exposure resulted in an increase in proportions of fatty acid 16:0 and decrease in fatty acid 18:2omega9,12c, indicating that TAP may stimulate the reproduction of microorganisms and inhibit the growth of fungi to some degree. Significant correlation was found between the ratio of fungi to bacteria and TAP removal (r2 = 0.840, p < 0.01). In addition, the microbial community in the phytoremediation system with C. indica was dominated by Gram negative bacteria, which possibly contributed to the degradation of TAP. These results indicated that TAP might induce the colonization of bacteria in the hydroponic system planted with C. indica, and lead to a discrimination of microbial community, which might be one of the mechanisms on TAP dissipation in phytoremediation system.