Phytoremediation: Harnessing plant power and innovative technologies for effective soil remediation

Toxic pollutants released from various human activities persistently pose significant threats to living organisms, affecting soil fertility, and impacting human health. Among the various remediation approaches, phytoremediation has gained popularity due to its cost-effectiveness and environmentally friendly characteristics. This method involves utilizing plant species to restore polluted soils, emphasizing the intrinsic abilities of plants to remediate contaminated environments. There are various phytoremediation approaches and combinations that have been developed, ranging from phytoextraction to rhizofiltration, each tailored to specific contaminants and environmental conditions. While acknowledging the slow and time-consuming nature of the phytoremediation process and its potential impact on plant growth and development, this review emphasizes the increasing significance of this eco-friendly approach. Moreover, the exploration suggests that leveraging plant-microbe interactions could enhance the efficiency of remediating contaminated areas. Furthermore, understanding the microbial mechanisms involved in phytoremediation is crucial for optimizing remediation outcomes. Microbes play a pivotal role in enhancing plant tolerance to pollutants, facilitating pollutant degradation, and promoting plant growth in contaminated environments. Harnessing the power of microbial communities through bioaugmentation or stimulating indigenous microbial populations can significantly improve phytoremediation efficiency. Emerging omics technologies and the application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in phytoremediation offer promising avenues for advancing soil remediation efforts. Omics approaches, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, provide insights into the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying plant responses to pollutants and can aid in identifying key genes or pathways for enhancing phytoremediation efficiency. Meanwhile, CRISPR/Cas9 technology presents an innovative solution for targeted genome editing in plants, enabling precise modification of genes involved in pollutant uptake, tolerance, and detoxification. By engineering plants with enhanced capabilities for metal sequestration or pollutant degradation, CRISPR/Cas9 holds tremendous potential for accelerating the remediation of contaminated soils. This comprehensive review serves as a valuable resource for environmental practitioners and scientists, providing insights into both traditional and innovative technologies that have the potential to transform soil remediation practices, ultimately contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment.