microbial-remediation
Microbial remediation is the use of microorganisms—such as bacteria and fungi—to degrade, neutralize, or sequester environmental contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, and hydrocarbons in soil and water. In plant science, this field is significant because soil contamination directly impairs root function, nutrient uptake, and overall plant health, making microbial remediation a critical tool for restoring productive growing conditions. Researchers also study plant-microbe partnerships in remediation, where root-associated microbial communities can enhance a plant's tolerance to pollutants and accelerate contaminant breakdown in the rhizosphere.
PubMed · 2026-04-01
A review of research on 'forever chemicals' (PFAS) in sewage sludge finds that bacteria and plants can partially break down these toxic compounds, but major gaps in knowledge remain about long-term risks to soil and food systems.
Certain bacteria (Dehalobacter spp. and Gordonia spp.) can degrade PFAS at efficiencies of 80-90% under optimized laboratory conditions.
Research is heavily concentrated in China (31%), Europe (30%), and North America (16%), leaving major knowledge gaps for South America, Oceania, and Africa.
Long-chain PFAS compounds preferentially accumulate in plant roots, while shorter-chain variants travel more readily into above-ground plant tissues.