Approaches for alleviating heavy metal stress

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities have led an augment in heavy metal contamination in water and soil throughout the past few decades. Increased crop plant exposure to heavy metals reduces production and growth, which affects agricultural production's future viability. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement for various strategies for mitigation of heavy metal stress. Among them, silicon supplementation presents a promising role in mitigating heavy metal stress. Numerous types of microorganisms, including fungi and bacteria are used as effective natural bioactive stimulants in the rhizosphere to help plants stressed by heavy metals. Nanoparticles (NPs) are useful for reducing heavy metal stress because of their distinct physiochemical characteristics. Plants can be used as hyper-accumulators of heavy metal ions, which is beneficial both economically and practically. Plant genetic modification techniques are used to increase phytoremediation's potential. The use of these strategies may prove to be economical and sustainable method for heavy metal detoxification.