Phytoremediaton: An Alternative Approach To Detoxify Heavy Metals With Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to improve plant growth on nutrient-poor soils and enhance their uptake of P, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Many plants growing on metal-contaminated soils possess mycorrhizae, representing that these fungi have evolved a tolerance to heavy metals and that they play an important role in the phytoremediation of contaminated soils. These rhizomicroflora secrete plant growth-promoting substances, siderophores, phytochelators to alleviate metal toxicity, enhance the bioavailability of metals (phytoremediation) and complexation of metals (phytostabilisation). Grasses, due to their fibrous rooting systems, can stabilize soil and provide a large surface area for root-soil contact. With this extraordinary ability, these plants can be used in future environmental remediation activities, so present review highlights the role of AMF-plant interaction in heavy metals uptake, as this model can be a very potent biotechnological tool for the successful reclamation of soil.