Review Article Open Access

PHYTOREMEDIATION – AN OVERVIEW REVIEW

Abstract

Phytoremediation, the use of green plants to clean up polluted soil and water resources has received much attention in the last few years. Phytoremediation offers owners and managers of metal contaminated sites is an innovative and cost effective option to address recalcitrant environmental contaminants. Although not a new concept, phytoremediation is currently being re-examined as an environmentally friendly, cost-effective means of reducing metal contaminated soil. Genetic engineering approaches are currently being used to optimize the metabolic and physiological process that enable plants to phytoremediate, sites contaminated with heavy metals. Genetic manipulation of environmentally important plants can produce elite plant lines with enhanced remediation abilities. Recent research results include over expression of genes whose protein products are involved in metal up take, transport and sequestration, have opened up new possibilities in phytoremediation. This review article provides a critical review of the recent progress towards the development of transgenic plants with improved phytoremediation capabilities and their potential use in environmental clean up.

A. VASAVI, R. USHA AND P.M. SWAMY

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