Endophyte synergistic phytoremediation is a sustainable solution for the removal of heavy metals and organic pollutants.

In recent decades, rapid economic growth has exacerbated environmental pollution, necessitating sustainable remediation strategies. Phytoremediation, an eco-friendly biotechnology leveraging plant microbe interactions, has emerged as a promising solution. Endophytes, the symbiotic microorganisms inhabiting plants, play a pivotal role in enhancing phytoremediation efficiency by promoting plant growth, improving stress tolerance, and facilitating pollutant degradation. This review systematically examines the mechanisms by which endophytes synergistically enhance phytoremediation, focusing on: (1) growth promotion and nutrient acquisition mediated by phytohormones; (2) restructuring of soil microbial communities to improve soil health; (3) boosting metal tolerance and bioaccumulation in plants; and (4) enzymatic degradation of organic contaminants. Furthermore, we critically evaluate recent advancements in endophyte synergistic phytoremediation, highlighting its potential for large-scale application in mitigating heavy metals and organic pollutants. Despite its promise, challenges such as scalability, environmental variability, and mechanistic uncertainties remain. In this review, we identify key research gaps and propose future directions to optimize the interactions between endophytes and plants for sustainable environmental remediation. By integrating theoretical insights with practical applications, this review provides a comprehensive foundation for advancing phytoremediation technologies.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  Journal of Environmental Management

• Publication date

  2025-11-28

• Fields of study

  Biology, Medicine, Environmental Science

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.128126PMID 41319642
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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