Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF)–Plant–Microbe Synergy: A Promising Strategy for Breaking the Bottleneck of PFAS Removal in Constructed Wetlands

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent emerging contaminants characterized by high environmental stability and biotoxicity. Ubiquitous detection of these contaminants across aquatic environments poses severe threats to ecosystem stability and human health, while constructed wetlands (CWs) serve as a sustainable low-carbon alternative for the remediation of PFAS-laden wastewater. However, traditional mechanisms such as matrix adsorption, phytoaccumulation, and microbial transformation often suffer from low efficiency, rapid saturation, and incomplete degradation. To overcome the above drawbacks, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)–plant–microbe synergistic consortium has become a promising remediation candidate, which facilitates PFAS immobilization and biodegradation via symbiotic crosstalk among three components. This paper reviews recent advancements in PFAS remediation within AMF-facilitated systems, examining fundamental synergistic mechanisms, treatment efficiencies, and key influencing factors. We propose several optimization strategies, including substrate modification, operational parameter refinement, and the integration of advanced technologies. Furthermore, we emphasize the necessity of elucidating the molecular pathways governing long-chain PFAS degradation and addressing current bottlenecks in engineering applications. Future research should prioritize molecular interaction level interaction mechanisms, the development of anti-interference systems, and field-scale validation. This review provides a theoretical foundation and technical framework for leveraging AMF–plant–microbe synergism to enhance PFAS removal in CWs.