Heavy Metals Remediation in Plants Through Genetic Tools: A Boon for Mankind

There have been a lot of instances where the plants are getting affected by heavy metals and metalloid toxicity. Due to contamination of heavy metals for the soil, green leafy vegetables are also absorbing those in a great amount and are causing menace for the environment. Human beings who are consuming those vegetables at a large rate are also facing the consequences. A large number of populations worldwide are suffering from diseases like arsenicosis and fluorosis due to the high rate of consumption of heavy metals through dietary intakes and it has become so frequent that it is required to restrict somehow. The physical processes of removing the heavy metals and metalloids were not that much efficient. But as soon as the biotechnological processes and the unique inventions of genetic tools were introduced in to the market, things became easier. The several genome editing tools were more than effective in terms of removing heavy metals from the plant system as well as equipping the plants to become resistant against those toxic heavy metals. In this review, the various genetic tools and their mechanism that are in popular use for bioremediation in plants and also about the various physiological changes and the signaling pathways plants adapt during the heavy metal stress have been elaborately discussed.