Potential of Halophytes-Associated Microbes for the Phytoremediation of Metal-Polluted Saline Soils

Abstract

Saline ecosystems are often the target of spills and releases of pollutants such as metals, as many industrial companies settle in or around these areas. Metal pollution is a major threat for humans and ecosystems. In line with sustainable development, nature-based solutions and biological tools such as phytoremediation offer eco-friendly and low-cost solutions to remove metals or limit their spread in the environment. Many plant-growth-promoting (PGP) effects are frequently prospected in plant-associated microbes such as the production of auxins, siderophores, or extracellular polymeric substances to enhance phytoremediation. Halophytes are nowadays presented as good phytoremediators for metal-contaminated saline environments such as coastal regions, but little is known about the potential of their associated microbes in the bioaugmentation of this technique. Here, we review the studies that focused on halophytes-associated microbes and their plant-growth-promotion capacities. Moreover, we discuss the limitation and applicability of bioaugmented phytoremediation in saline ecosystems.

Keywords

• halophytes
• PGP microbes
• metal phytoremediation
• bacteria
• fungi