Significance of photosystem integrity and reducing Cd accumulation in mitigating Cd stress on olive tree inoculated with soil-borne bacteria consortium is variety-dependent

• CdCl 2 impact on performance of PSI and PSII in olive tree is variety-dependent • Above-ground Cd accumulation is much higher in the sensitive variety Chetoui • Microbial inoculation restores photosystem functional integrity in both varieties • Microbial inoculation enhances leaf pigment content in both varieties • Microbial inoculation restricts Cd transport to above-ground organs in Chetoui Rhizosphere microbial community role in boosting fruit tree ability to cope with heavy metals is gaining interest. Here, we address the effects of in-frame holobiont microbial inoculation on two Tunisian olive tree varieties ( Olea europaea L. cv. Chemlali and Chetoui) exposed to CdCl 2 for one month. Shoot Cd content, leaf pigment contents, chlorophyll fluorescence, and energy conversion-related traits in photosystems I and II (PSI and PSII) were considered. Following pyrosequencing-based 16S rRNA analysis, Proteobacteria, and to a lesser extent Firmicutes phylums, were the most abundant. Both Cd-treated olive varieties showed a significant decrease in leaf pigment contents, however, this depressive effect was significantly mitigated following inoculation. PSI and PSII activities were more altered in Cd-treated Chetoui as compared to Chemlali. Quantum yield and electron transport of PSI and PSII were also more impacted in Chetoui, whereas the limitation of the donor side of PSI increased in the latter. Yet, Cd impact on these parameters was significantly reduced in inoculated plants. The quantum yield of nonregulated non-photochemical energy loss in PSII significantly increased in both olive varieties under Cd stress, but values were markedly restored with inoculation. High Cd accumulation observed in Chetoui shoots upon Cd exposure was significantly lower in inoculated plants. Overall, the consortium used improved olive tree Cd tolerance likely due to the restoration of leaf pigment contents and the better integrity of photosystems in both varieties, whereas lowering Cd translocation to shoots would be more prominent in Chetoui. Long-term experiments will be conducted to confirm these results.