Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

Environmental pollution by heavy metals and xenobiotics has been a major global problem over the years. Currently, Phytoremediation technology utilizing plants for heavy metal extraction is providing a new vista for a cleaner technology. Here, we appealed that, studies designed to assess the phytoremediation potentials of a plant should also assess for plant attributes such as phenotypic plasticity (environmental induced shift in a plant?s phenotype) which could be crucial for the fitness and survival of plants growing in heavily degraded environments. We argued that, plants that can hyper accumulate heavy metal from polluted soils and, as a response, exhibit high level of plasticity especially in traits of evolutionary importance should be better candidates for Phyto-remediation.We provided a conceptual toolbox with the definition of key terms underlying the mechanism of phenotypic plasticity, as relevant to Phyto-remediation. We hope to stimulate cross-disciplinary approach to studies focusing on ecological restoration in general.

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