Monire Abolhasani Sooraki - Department of Plant Science, School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan ۳۶۷۱۶-۴۱۱۶۷, Iran.
Vahid Poozesh - Department of Plant Science, School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan ۳۶۷۱۶-۴۱۱۶۷, Iran.
Fatemeh Salimi - Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Damghan University, Damghan ۳۶۷۱۶-۴۱۱۶۷ Iran.
Ahmad Reza Mehrabian - Department of Plant Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, GC, Tehran, Iran.

Phytoremediation is an eco-friendly technique for hydrocarbon bioremoval. Phytoremediation efficiency can be enhanced by cooperation of plants and crude oil degrading bacteria. This study was aimed to select crude oil tolerant grasses and clarify the bioremoval efficiency of R.ruber KE۱-augmented phytoremediation. For this purpose, Resistance of Festuca rubra rubra, Festuca rubra commutate, Lolium perenne and Poa pratensis to crude oil was evaluated. Further, supportive and augmenting role of R.ruber KE۱ treatment on morphological and biochemical properties of grasses and crude oil phytoremediation was assessed. According to the results Festuca rubra rubra, L. perenne were selected as more crude oil resistant grasses. R.ruber KE۱ could significantly enhance their growth parameters (radicle, root and shoot length) in the presence of crude oil. The most applied concentration of crude oil (۵% w/w) inhibited Festuca rubra rubra growth while R.ruber KE۱ treatment improved Festuca rubra rubra growth (p <۰.۰۵). Combination of R. ruber KE۱ with L. perenne or Festuca rubra rubra resulted in higher degradation rate of >۷۰% in all applied concentration of crude oil after ۴۰ days. R. ruber KE۱ treatment enhanced biodegrading of insoluble (۳۶%→۱.۸۲%) and soluble (۵۳.۸۶%→۱۴.۵۲%) compounds of crude oil. R.ruber KE۱-augmented phytoremediation can be promising approach to degrade recalcitrant hydrocarbon pollutants and remediate contaminated soils.

Bioremediation, Crude oil, Festuca rubra rubra, Lolium perenne, R.ruber KE۱