Review: Plant Microbe-Interaction in Heavy Metal Contaminated Soils

Abstract

Heavy metals are the most important inorganic pollutants, which are not degraded and progressively accumulate in the environment. The use of plants for rehabilitation of heavy-metal-contaminated soils is an emerging area of interest, because it provides an ecologically and environmentally sound and safe method for restoration and remediation. Although a number of plant species are capable of hyper-accumulation of heavy metals, however, this approach is not applicable for remediating sites with multiple contaminants. The biogeochemical capacities of microorganisms seem almost limitless and they can adsorb and accumulate metals in their cells and are being used in microbial leaching and also as agents of cleaning the environment.