Application of P. aeruginosa strain CD3 in reducing the adverse effect of cadmium on chili plant

Cadmium (Cd) contamination poses a serious threat to agricultural productivity and food safety by impairing plant physiological functions, inducing oxidative stress, and facilitating toxic metal accumulation in edible parts. Capsicum annuum L., a widely cultivated thermophilic crop, is particularly sensitive to heavy metal toxicity, which adversely affects its growth, reproduction, and biochemical stability. Our findings highlight the ability of strain CD3 to reduce Cd phytotoxicity, restrict its translocation to edible parts, and improve crop performance by modulating plant physiology and rhizospheric microbial communities.