This book concentrates on how plant growth promoting bacteria can contribute to improve the growth of hyperaccumulating plants and their heavy metal uptake and thus the efficiency and rate of metal phytoremediation. The specific mechanisms of how microorganisms may increase plant metal uptake include: they may increase root surface area and plant biomass yield, increase metal bioavailability, and/or increase soluble metal element translocate from the rhizosphere soil to the plant.

Ph.D (2007-2010) in the Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; M.Sc (2004-2006) in the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa