Microbial degradation of Dicamba: Emerging enzymes, genetic pathways, and prospects for engineered bioremediation

• Microbial diversity: a key driver in dicamba degradation • Unveiling hidden pathways and novel genes of dicamba catabolism • Insights into dicamba-associated enzyme systems and their components • Cutting-edge GMO research advancing environmental safety and food security • Bioaugmentation and phytoremediation for sustainable weed management The extensive agricultural use of dicamba, a volatile and highly mobile herbicide, has led to environmental contamination and off-target crop damage. However, microbial metabolism offers an eco-friendly strategy to meet these challenges. In this context, recent scientific advances have discovered numerous microbial species capable of degrading dicamba. Moreover, these studies have elucidated the underlaying mechanisms and metabolic pathways linked to dicamba degradation. This review comprehensively summarizes the microbial diversity, molecular and genetic mechanisms, enzymatic pathways and biotechnological prospects, integrating recent molecular insights with emerging synthetic biology applications to propose a holistic framework for bioremediation. To date, two major degradation routes have been identified, (i) NADH-dependent dicamba O-demethylases (e.g., ddmABC ) and (ii) THF-dependent methyltransferase systems (e.g., dmt50/dmt06 ). These mechanisms have been characterized in Stenotrophomonas. maltophilia DI-6, Sphingobium sp. Ndbn-10, and Rhizorhabdus dicambivorans Ndbn-20 respectively. The diversity in degradation mechanisms demonstrates convergent evolution toward efficient demethylation and detoxification. The genetic dissection and heterologous expression of these enzymes have elucidated their coordinated catalytic roles in degradation process. These insights along with comparative genomics and metabolomics established the foundation of synthetic biology approaches such as SoxRS-based biosensing circuits and engineered degradative modules, which present innovative microbial platforms for real-time detection and neutralizations of dicamba. The current knowledge provides a foundation for future advancements in microbial assisted phytoremediation, optimization of microbial formulations for bioaugmentation, and the development of robust multi-herbicide degradation systems guided by gene–environment interactions. The integration of these biotechnological approaches into agricultural practices will ensure the environment safety, food security and sustainable weed management in future.