Hyperaccumulation of arsenic by Pteris vittata, a potential strategy for phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soil

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is highly carcinogenic and toxic in nature. Increased levels of As contamination is a threat to health and environment, as it could accumulate into the agricultural soils and enters into the food chain. The conventional strategies of remediation, like capping, landfilling, excavation, and chemical methods for As, are found to be expensive and therefore cause imbalance in the ecosystem. Alternatively, phytoremediation techniques are eco-friendly and remove As from contaminated soil. As-resistant bacteria ameliorate the process of phytoextraction in As-hyperaccumulating plants, such as Pteris vittata. In this review, we have described the prospects of P. vittata, which is an As-hyperaccumulator, for the remediation of As-contaminated soil. The research information available on P. vitatta has been compiled, analysed and presented, with details of its response to As toxicity, mechanism of As uptake and transport, and detoxification/resistance mechanisms, to promote it as a model system for As-phytoremediation. Also, the role of soil microorganisms, which assist P. vittata in the process of As-remediation, has been discussed for improvement of phytoremediation efficiency.