Effect of endophytic bacteria on the phytoremediation potential of halophyte Tamarix smyrnensis for Sb-contaminated soilsEffect of endophytic bacteria on the phytoremediation potential of halophyte Tamarix smyrnensis for Sb-contaminated soils Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2025-04-152024enPhytoremediation, including bacteria-assisted phytoremediation, presents a promising technology for treating shooting range soils contaminated with toxic metalloids. In this study, a pot experiment was performed using the halophyte Tamarix smyrnensis and soil collected from a shooting range and artificially spiked at two different antimonite (Sb(III)) concentrations (50 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg) with the aim to explore the Sb phytoremediation of the halophyte. The effect of salt (0.3%) and Mn addition (300 ppm) on its remediation capacity was also investigated. Moreover, the root endophytic community of the halophyte was found able to remove Sb(III) and was periodically inoculated to the plants. The consortium application increased the Sb bioavailable fraction in the soil and enhanced the Sb accumulation in root and aerial parts (up to 50% and 55% respectively at high Sb(III) concentration) compared to the uninoculated plants. Moreover, the presence of Mn increased the translocation factor (21% increase for inoculated and 46% increase for uninoculated plants) while lower TF was observed at high Sb concentrations (0,2 and 0,07 was the lowest value at low and high Sb treatments respectively). The addition of salt, Mn and root endophytic bacteria aided the halophyte to cope with elevated Sb concentrations. The total chlorophyll concentration was higher in inoculated plants compared to the uninoculated ones in all treatments, implying the positive effects of endophytic inoculation. The halophyte T. smyrnensis with the aid of endophytic community presents a promising alternative for remediating shooting range soils especially in areas impacted by salinity.Financial support by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 project “ELECTRA” under Grant Agreement No. 826244 is highly appreciated.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/International Journal of Phytoremediation266964–974 Seridou Petroula Σεριδου Πετρουλα Fyntrilakis Konstantinos Φυντριλακης Κωνσταντινος Kyritsi Sofia Κυριτση Σοφια Syranidou Evdokia Συρανιδου Ευδοκια Kalogerakis Nikos Καλογερακης Νικος Taylor & Francis Antimony Halophytes Phytoremediation Salinity Sb resistant endophytic bacteria