Role of microbes in grass-based phytoremediation

Abstract Phytoremediation is an emerging green technology that uses plants as natural purifiers to remediate toxic xenobiotic compounds. Rhizosphere and endophytic microbiome plays an important role in phytoremediation and plant health and plants are able to regulate the composition of its microbiome, and by consequence, microbial degradation. Among the different phytotechniques, phytoextraction (mobilization, uptake, and accumulation in plant tissue) and phytosequestration (immbolization within soil) are important for remediation of HMs. Rhizodegradation plays pivotal role for the degradation of organic pollutants, such as PAH, PCBs, explosives, herbicides, etc. Although natural hyperaccumulators can phytoextract and accumulate high quantity of metals, their slow growth and limited biomass producing ability limits overall rate of metal removal. Addition of chelating agents to improve metal bioavailability and subsequent removal, introduces additional cost and new health hazards. Instead of hyperaccumulators, new phytomanagement concept is giving emphasis on the selection of high biomass and biofuel producing, easily propagated, low metal accumulating, and deep-rooted perennial grasses. Due to industrialization, amount of contaminated and is increasing and use of contaminated land not suitable for food production, should be utilized for biofuel producing grasses contributing economic development and energy demands.