Current assessment and future perspectives on phytoremediation of heavy metals

Authors: ACHARYA, ANIRUDDHA - Arkansas Technical University; Bellaloui, Nacer; PILIPOVIC, ANDREJ - University Of Minnesota; PEREZ, ENRIQUE - Texas A&M International Unviersity; MADDOX-MANDOLINI, MILLER - Delta State University; DE LA FUENTE, HANIA - Delta State University

Submitted to: Plants
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/3/2025
Publication Date: 9/12/2025
Citation: Acharya, A., Bellaloui, N., Pilipovic, A., Perez, E., Maddox-Mandolini, M., De La Fuente, H. 2025. Current assessment and future perspectives on phytoremediation of heavy metals. Plants. 14:1-26. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182847.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182847

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Heavy metals such as zinc, manganese, nickel, cobalt, copper, iron, and molybdenum are required in minute quantities to maintain optimal biological functions. However, most others are not required for living cells; thus, their accumulation within cells and tissues poses a serious threat to health and environment. Phytoremediation can offer a safe, inexpensive, and ecologically sustainable technique to clean habitats contaminated with heavy metals. Though several herbaceous and woody plants have been identified and utilized as potential candidates for phytoremediation, the technique is still at its formative stage and has been mostly confined to laboratories and greenhouses. However, recently, several field studies have shown promising results that can propel large-scale implementation of this technology in industrial sites and urban agriculture. The commercialization of this technique is possible if an interdisciplinary approach is employed to increase its efficiency. Identification of the genetic mechanisms and the cell signaling pathways involved in phytoremediation may help biotechnological intervention, resulting in the improvement in the efficiency of the process. This review presents a comprehensive approach of phytoremediation with a focus on the current assessment and future perspectives on the technique. It illustrates the concept of phytoremediation, the ecological and commercial benefits, and the types of phytoremediation. The candidate plants and factors that influence phytoremediation have been discussed. The physiological and molecular mechanism along with perspectives on the future of the technique have been also illustrated. This review presents clear and updated information on this rapidly evolving technology, providing public and private sectors with essential knowledge on phytoremediation mechanisms that accelerate the development of transgenic plants or other tools that might be more efficient in phytoremediation.