In vitro hairy root culture: a promising approach to investigate molecular mechanism of phytoremediation

Abstract

Environmental pollution caused by natural processes or anthropogenic activities is a major global problem. Although several physical and chemical strategies have been used for environmental remediation, these methods are expensive and associated with certain limitations. Phytoremediation is an alternative, biological approach where different plant species are used for the removal of pollutants from the environment or for converting toxic molecules to non toxic forms. Both organic and inorganiccompounds of various types are the targets of phytoremediation. Recently Hairy root cultures have been considered as asuperior model system to investigate molecular mechanism of phytoremediation processes as rhizofiltration, phytostabilization and phytoextraction of organic and inorganic pollutants because of their biochemical and genetic stability and easy maintenance. This review focuses on the phytoremediation process, induction and establishment of in vitro hairy rootculture, advantages of hairy root culture, future application of hairy root culture system to understand the molecular mechanism of phytoremediation