Mechanisms of plant and microbial adaptation to heavy metals in plant-microbial systems

The data on heavy metal (HM) accumulation and detoxification by plants and bacteria in plant-microbial systems (PMS) are reviewed. Bacteria are shown to be the labile component of the system, responsible for a considerable amelioration of HM stress impact on plants and for improved PMS adaptation to heavy metals. Simulation of plant-microbial interactions under conditions of soil contamination by HM revealed the protective role of bacterial migration from the rhizoplane to the rhizosphere.