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Advances in Phytoremediation Strategies to Address Global Environmental Challenges
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Advances in Phytoremediation Strategies to Address Global Environmental Challenges

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 10314

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anas Raklami

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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Agrosciences, and Environment (BioMAgE), Labeled Research Unit-CNRST N°4, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
Interests: phytoremediation; bioremediation; heavy metals; environmental pollution; restoration; assisted phytoremediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ahmed Nafis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Microbiology and Antimicrobial Agents Team, Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Valorization of Ecosystems (LB2VE/URL-CNRST n◦10), Faculty of Sciences, Chouaïb Doukkali University, El Jadida 24000, Morocco
Interests: microbes; extreme environments; pollution; plant growth; soil fertility; environmental challenges

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Green and Industrial Revolutions marked transformative milestones in agriculture and industrialization, significantly enhancing food production and advancing mechanization and economies worldwide. Nevertheless, although these revolutions established the groundwork for modern agricultural and economic development, they concurrently engendered profound environmental challenges, such as the pollution of soil with various organic and inorganic contaminants. In the present decade, these challenges have escalated to a critical threshold, posing an alarming threat to ecosystems, biodiversity, and human well-being. Addressing these interconnected challenges demands immediate collaborative action to protect all species and ensure planetary sustainability.

Among the strategies employed to remediate polluted environments, phytoremediation, first conceptualized in 1991, has emerged as a promising sustainable approach. This nature-based solution leverages plants' innate ability to degrade, accumulate, and stabilize contaminants. Despite its potential, its efficacy can be limited in environments with high levels of contamination, where plant growth is inhibited.

To address these limitations, new approaches could be used to increase the performance of this technique. The application of soil amendments, aligned with the principles of the circular bioeconomy, could be a vital approach to not only reduce the bioavailability of contaminants, but also enhance soil quality and promote plant growth and development. Additionally, the use of plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPM) provides a synergistic advantage by improving plant resilience under abiotic stress, enhancing biomass production, and facilitating the accumulation or degradation of contaminants.

Given the urgent significance of environmental pollution within the broader framework of global challenges, this Special Issue of Plants focuses on the recent advances in phytoremediation strategies.

Dr. Anas Raklami
Dr. Ahmed Nafis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pollution contamination
  • environment remediation
  • restoration xenobiotics
  • plants accumulation
  • amendments microbes

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3937 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Leguminous Plants as Phytoremediator Species in Soil with Pesticide and Vinasse Interactions
by Munick Beato Aragão, Emanuella Roberto Ribeiro, Yanca Araujo Frias, Victor Hugo Cruz, Thalia Silva Valério, Alexandre Ribeiro Batista, Paulo Henrique Frata Ferreira, Henzo Henrique Simionatto and Paulo Renato Matos Lopes
Plants 2025, 14(20), 3137; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14203137 - 11 Oct 2025
Viewed by 506
Abstract
Sugarcane is a key crop for sugar, biofuels, and bioenergy, with Brazil as the world’s largest producer. Intensive cultivation demands pesticides like tebuthiuron and thiamethoxam, while fertigation with vinasse may alter their environmental behavior. Sustainable approaches, such as phytoremediation, are needed to mitigate [...] Read more.
Sugarcane is a key crop for sugar, biofuels, and bioenergy, with Brazil as the world’s largest producer. Intensive cultivation demands pesticides like tebuthiuron and thiamethoxam, while fertigation with vinasse may alter their environmental behavior. Sustainable approaches, such as phytoremediation, are needed to mitigate negative impacts on soil quality. This study assessed the phytoremediation potential of Canavalia ensiformis and Mucuna pruriens in soils contaminated with tebuthiuron, thiamethoxam, and vinasse under greenhouse conditions. Experiments used a completely randomized design (five replicates, 4 × 2 factorial). Plant development impacts on the sentinel species Crotalaria juncea, and ecotoxicity via Lactuca sativa bioassays were evaluated. Tebuthiuron strongly inhibited C. ensiformis, while thiamethoxam showed mild stimulatory effects. M. pruriens maintained better growth in the presence of contaminants. Bioassays revealed greater residual toxicity in tebuthiuron treatments. Overall, M. pruriens demonstrated superior biomass production and capacity to lessen soil toxicity, underscoring its potential as a sustainable tool for phytoremediation of pesticide-impacted soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Phytoremediation Strategies to Address Global Environmental Challenges)
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16 pages, 1336 KB  
Article
Synergistic Effects of Lavandula angustifolia and a Bacterial Consortium on Bioremediation of a Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil
by Cristina Cavone, Aurora Rutigliano, Pietro Cotugno, Ludovica Rolando, Chiara De Carolis, Anna Barra Caracciolo, Paola Grenni, Ilaria Savino, Antonio Bucci, Gino Naclerio, Fulvio Celico, Vito Felice Uricchio and Valeria Ancona
Plants 2025, 14(17), 2734; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172734 - 2 Sep 2025
Viewed by 4138
Abstract
Heavy metal (HM) contamination represents a significant threat to soil functionality and ecosystem health. The present study aims to assess the efficacy of an integrated bioremediation strategy combining Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) and a four-strain bacterial consortium in restoring a multi-contaminated soil collected from [...] Read more.
Heavy metal (HM) contamination represents a significant threat to soil functionality and ecosystem health. The present study aims to assess the efficacy of an integrated bioremediation strategy combining Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) and a four-strain bacterial consortium in restoring a multi-contaminated soil collected from a former industrial site in Southern Italy. Microcosm experiments were conducted over a period of 90 days, including three treatments and a control: a planted condition (PLANT), a bioaugmented condition (BIOAUG), and a combined plant and bioaugmentation condition (PLANT+BIOAUG). The control (HCS) consisted of unplanted and non-bioaugmented soil. Soil physico-chemical parameters (e.g., pH, electrical conductivity, and heavy metal concentrations), plant growth, microbial abundance, and dehydrogenase activity (DHA) were measured at the initial and final experimental time. Finally, a Soil Quality Index (SQI) was applied. The combined treatment (PLANT+BIOAUG) promoted a significant reduction in total Pb and Sn concentrations by 44.7% and 66.9%, respectively. Moreover, a significant increase in soil pH and microbial abundance was observed. Applying the SQI to integrate overall soil data made it possible to highlight the highest quality score (0.73) for this condition. These findings suggest the potential effectiveness of lavender-assisted bioaugmentation as a scalable and multifunctional strategy for remediating heavy metal-contaminated soils, in line with ecological restoration principles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Phytoremediation Strategies to Address Global Environmental Challenges)
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22 pages, 4006 KB  
Article
Biochar and Melatonin Partnership Mitigates Arsenic Toxicity in Rice by Modulating Antioxidant Defense, Phytochelatin Synthesis, and Down-Regulating the Transporters Involved in Arsenic Uptake
by Mehmood Ali Noor, Muhammad Umair Hassan, Tahir Abbas Khan, Baoyuan Zhou and Guoqin Huang
Plants 2025, 14(15), 2453; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152453 - 7 Aug 2025
Viewed by 969
Abstract
Arsenic (As) contamination has significantly increased in recent decades due to anthropogenic activities. This is a serious challenge for human health, environmental quality, and crop productivity. Biochar (BC) is an important practice used globally to remediate polluted soils. Likewise, melatonin (MT) has also [...] Read more.
Arsenic (As) contamination has significantly increased in recent decades due to anthropogenic activities. This is a serious challenge for human health, environmental quality, and crop productivity. Biochar (BC) is an important practice used globally to remediate polluted soils. Likewise, melatonin (MT) has also shown tremendous results in mitigating metal toxicity and improving crop productivity. Nevertheless, the mechanism of combined BC and MT in alleviating As toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.) remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated how As affected rice and how the combined BC and MT facilitated As tolerance. The study comprised a control, As stress (100 mg kg−1), As stress (100 mg kg−1) + BC (2%), As stress (100 mg kg−1) + MT (100 µM) and As stress (100 mg kg−1) + BC (2%) + MT (100 µM). Arsenic significantly decreased rice growth and yield by increasing electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Co-applying BC and MT substantially enhanced rice growth and yield by increasing chlorophyll synthesis (48.12–92.42%) leaf water contents (40%), antioxidant activities (ascorbate peroxide: 56.43%, catalase: 55.14%, peroxidase: 57.77% and superoxide dismutase: 57.52%), proline synthesis (41.35%), MT synthesis (91.53%), and phytochelatins synthesis (125%) nutrient accumulation in rice seedlings and soil nutrient availability. The increased rice yield with BC + MT was also linked with reduced H2O2 production, As accumulation, soil As availability, and an increase in OsAPx6, OsCAT, OsPOD, OsSOD OsASMT1, and OsASMT2 and a decrease in expression of OsABCC1. Biochar + MT enhanced residual OM- and Fe, ((Fe2As) and Mn (Mn3(AsO4)2) bound forms of As leading to a substantial increase in rice growth and yield. Thus, the combination of BC and MT is an eco-friendly approach to mitigate As toxicity and improve rice productivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Phytoremediation Strategies to Address Global Environmental Challenges)
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17 pages, 5600 KB  
Article
From Marshes to Mines: Germination and Establishment of Crinum bulbispermum on Gold Mine Tailings
by Vincent C. Clarke, Sarina Claassens, Dirk P. Cilliers and Stefan J. Siebert
Plants 2025, 14(15), 2443; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152443 - 7 Aug 2025
Viewed by 717
Abstract
The growth potential of Crinum bulbispermum was evaluated on gold mine tailings. The primary objectives were to model the species’ climatic niche in relation to gold mining regions, assess its germination success on tailings, and compare seedling survival and growth on tailings versus [...] Read more.
The growth potential of Crinum bulbispermum was evaluated on gold mine tailings. The primary objectives were to model the species’ climatic niche in relation to gold mining regions, assess its germination success on tailings, and compare seedling survival and growth on tailings versus other soil types. Species distribution modelling identified the South African Grassland Biome on the Highveld (1000+ m above sea level), where the majority of gold mines are located, as highly suitable for the species. Pot trials demonstrated above 85% germination success across all soil treatments, including gold mine tailings, indicating its potential for restoration through direct seeding. An initial seedling establishment rate of 100% further demonstrated the species’ resilience to mine tailings, which are often seasonally dry, nutrient-poor, and may contain potentially toxic metals. However, while C. bulbispermum was able to germinate and establish in mine tailings, long-term growth potential (over 12 months) was constrained by low organic carbon content (0.11%) and high salinity (194.50 mS/m). These findings underscore the critical role of soil chemistry and organic matter in supporting long-term plant establishment and growth on gold tailings. Building on previous research, this study confirms the ability of this thick-rooted geophyte to tolerate chemically extreme soil conditions. Crinum bulbispermum shows promise for phytostabilization and as a potential medicinal plant crop on tailings. However, future research on microbial community interactions and soil amendment strategies is essential to ensure its long-term sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Phytoremediation Strategies to Address Global Environmental Challenges)
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16 pages, 2127 KB  
Article
Residual Chlorine Interaction with Microelements in Plants Applied for Phytoremediation in Rain Gardens
by Ieva Andriulaityte, Marina Valentukeviciene, Viktoras Chadysas and Antonina Kalinichenko
Plants 2025, 14(13), 1957; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14131957 - 26 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 984
Abstract
Stormwater pollution from residual chlorine after outdoor disinfection with sodium hypochlorite is an increasing environmental challenge due to its potential negative impact on aquatic ecosystems. Even at low concentrations, residual chlorine can disrupt the stability of water ecosystems. In this regard, stormwater treatment [...] Read more.
Stormwater pollution from residual chlorine after outdoor disinfection with sodium hypochlorite is an increasing environmental challenge due to its potential negative impact on aquatic ecosystems. Even at low concentrations, residual chlorine can disrupt the stability of water ecosystems. In this regard, stormwater treatment requires innovative and green solutions such as green infrastructure (rain gardens) using the plant phytoremediation technique to reduce the amount of residual chlorine. This study explores the interactions between residual chlorine retained by plants in a rain garden and different microelements. Selected plants were analyzed via spectroscopy, and possible interactions with elements such as chlorine (Cl), phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), nickel (Ni), silicon (Si), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd) were determined using Python-based analysis. Chlorine presented significant positive correlations with cadmium (0.39–0.53) and potassium (0.51–0.55), while negative correlations were found between silicon and chlorine (−0.48–−0.54) and chlorine and iron (−0.45–−0.51). The correlations between chlorine and microelements suggest both common uptake mechanisms and mutual interactions. These results provide a better understanding of the behavior of chlorine in rain gardens and its interactions with other materials, which is especially valuable for designing green infrastructure. This research can help to develop sustainable solutions that reduce environmental pollution and strengthen urban adaptation to climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Phytoremediation Strategies to Address Global Environmental Challenges)
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Review

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28 pages, 1724 KB  
Review
Managing Arsenic Pollution from Soil–Plant Systems: Insights into the Role of Biochar
by Qitao Su, Zhixuan Du, Xinyi Huang, Muhammad Umair Hassan and Faizah Amer Altihani
Plants 2025, 14(10), 1553; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14101553 - 21 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2439
Abstract
Soil contamination with arsenic (As) is becoming a serious concern for living organisms. Arsenic is a nonessential metalloid for plants, humans, and other living organisms. Biochar (BC) is a very effective amendment to remediate polluted soils and it received great attention owing to [...] Read more.
Soil contamination with arsenic (As) is becoming a serious concern for living organisms. Arsenic is a nonessential metalloid for plants, humans, and other living organisms. Biochar (BC) is a very effective amendment to remediate polluted soils and it received great attention owing to its appreciable results. Arsenic toxicity negatively affects plant morph-physiological and biochemical functioning and upsurges the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which negatively affect cellular structures. Arsenic toxicity also reduces seed germination and impedes plant growth by decreasing nutrient uptake, causing oxidative damage and disrupting the photosynthetic efficiency. Plants use different strategies like antioxidant defense and increased osmolyte synthesis to counteract As toxicity; nevertheless, this is not enough to counter the toxic impacts of As. Thus, applying BC has shown tremendous potential to counteract the As toxicity. Biochar application to As-polluted soils improves water uptake, maintains membrane stability and nutrient homeostasis, and increases osmolyte synthesis, gene expression, and antioxidant activities, leading to better plant performance. Additionally, BC modulates soil pH, increases nutrient availability, causes As immobilization, decreases its uptake and accumulation in plant tissues, and ensures safer production. The present review describes the sources, toxic impacts of As, and ways to lower As in the environment to decrease its toxic impacts on humans, the ecosystem, and the food chain. It concentrates on different mechanisms mediated by BC to alleviate As toxicity and remediate As-polluted soils and different research gaps that must be fulfilled in the future. Therefore, the current review will help to develop innovative strategies to minimize As uptake and accumulation and remediate As-polluted soils to reduce their impacts on humans and the environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Phytoremediation Strategies to Address Global Environmental Challenges)
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