BIOTECHNOLOGY AS A CATALYST FOR PHYTOREMEDIATION: ENHANCED PLANTS FOR SOIL DECONTAMINATION WITH HEAVY METALS
Keywords:
Phytoremediation, Biotechnology, Heavy MetalsAbstract
Soil contamination by heavy metals is a critical environmental challenge, demanding effective and sustainable remediation solutions. This integrative review article analyzes how biotechnology has acted as a catalyst for phytoremediation, enhancing the natural ability of plants to decontaminate soils. Through an analysis of scientific literature from the last five years, the results demonstrate three main innovation fronts: the genetic engineering of plants to overexpress transporter and chelator genes, increasing metal tolerance and accumulation; precision genome editing with CRISPR-Cas9 to finely modulate the plant's endogenous mechanisms; and microbe-assisted phytoremediation with genetically modified microorganisms, which optimize pollutant bioavailability and protect the plant. It is concluded that while biotechnology elevates the efficiency of phytoremediation to a new level, the successful translation of these technologies from the laboratory to the field represents the final barrier to their large-scale consolidation.
