Decoding oxidative stress regulation in food crops exposed to heavy metals: interdisciplinary strategies for sustainable mitigation

The urgent need to address heavy metal (HM) toxicity in agriculture and its impact on human health calls for innovative solutions such as phyto-remediation, microbial-remediation and the development of transgenic plants to mitigate HM accumulation in soils and crops, etc. This review explores the integration of biotechnological and bioremediation techniques to combat HM contamination in the food crops. This includes employing plants and bacteria to remove, stabilize or decompose HMs from contaminated sites. Genetic engineering facilitates the development of transgenic plants fortified against HM toxicity, while microbial-mediated bioremediation enhances soil health and plant growth. The rhizosphere, where plant roots interact with soil microorganisms, is crucial for these strategies’ success. This review presents a novel integration of phyto-remediation, microbial remediation and genetic engineering strategies for HM contamination in crops. By highlighting the synergistic potential of genetically modified hyper-accumulating plants, plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) and microbial-mediated bioremediation, it provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to tackle this global issue. Looking forward, the review anticipates widespread applications of genetically modified plants and microorganisms in phytoremediation. This work also proposes new directions for future research, particularly focusing on unexplored mechanisms underlying plant–microbe interactions and HM mobilization, offering promising pathways toward more sustainable and efficient phytoremediation solutions.