Decolourization and Detoxification of Azo Dye, Malachite Green by Pseudomonas monteilii Strain RZT1, a Bacterium Isolated from Textile Wastewater

Discharge of textile industrial effluent without proper treatment has become a severe hazard for the animal health and environment worldwide. Therefore, this study was designed to isolate azo dye-degrading bacteria from textile wastewater and evaluate their ability to biodegrade reactive dyes into non-toxic products. The potent bacterial strain which was isolated from textile wastewater was identified as Pseudomonas monteilii strain RZT1 on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence. The isolated bacterial strain exhibited good decolorization ability with yeast extract supplementation as cosubstrate in static conditions for Malachite Green dye. The optimal condition for the decolorization of Malachite Green dye by P. monteilii strain RZT1 were at pH 7.0 and 28°C. Decolorization rates of Malachite Green dye by P. monteilii strain RZT1 were varied with initial dye concentration as follow: 84.8%, 75.4%, 63.4% and 45.5% decolorization for 100ppm, 200ppm, 300ppm and 400ppm initial dye concentration respectively. We investigated the effects of dyes used in the textile industry on the seed germination of Five crops - Rice (Oryza sativa), Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Khesari (Lathyrus sativus), Mustard (Brassica nigra) and Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia). It was found that textile dye Malachite Green had negative effect on seed germination and seedling growth in test cultures. The harmful effects of dye on seed germination and early seedling growth parameters were augmented with increase of dye concentration. Interestingly, treatment of the Malachite Green dye with isolated bacteria reduced the adverse effects of that dye on seed germination and seedling growth. Thus, it indicated the potentiality of P. monteilii strain RZT1 for bioremediation of textile effluents into a non-toxic form for plants.