PhytoRhizoProm: Combining Plants, Microbes and Genomics for Soil Restoration

Nymphe
1 day ago
3 min read

Soil pollution remains a major environmental challenge, while conventional remediation methods are often costly and invasive. PhytoRhizoProm offers a nature-based alternative by combining plants, microorganisms and biotechnology to improve pollutant degradation and support ecological restoration. The technology harnesses plant–microbe cooperation to break down persistent contaminants and restore polluted soils in a more sustainable way. Discover how plants, bacteria and biotechnology can work together as a living system to restore polluted soils more efficiently and sustainably.

Technology name: PhytoRhizoProm

Objective: To create a holistic, nature-based solution for soil pollution by combining phytoremediation, rhizodegradation, and plant growth promotion.

Impact: Improved efficiency of pollutant removal from soil through enhanced plant–microbe interactions and genetic optimization.

Target pollutants: Persistent organic pollutants, especially those containing aromatic rings, which are difficult to degrade.

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Technology description

PhytoRhizoProm combines PHYTOremediation, RHIZOdegradation, and plant growth PROMotion into a holistic, nature-based solution for soil pollution.

Phytoremediation is an established green technology that uses plants, their enzymes, and the activity of microbes living in and around them to reduce or eliminate pollutants from soil. Plants contribute to this process in several ways, including phytoextraction (uptake of pollutants into plant tissues), phytostabilization (immobilization of pollutants in the soil), and phytodegradation (breakdown of pollutants by plant enzymes).

However, plants never work alone. They form close partnerships with a vast community of microorganisms - on/close to their roots (rhizosphere), inside their tissues (endosphere), and on their surfaces (phyllosphere). These plant-associated microbes are essential partners in both pollution degradation and plant health.

PhytoRhizoProm takes advantage of this intimate plant–microbe partnership. It leverages the plant’s natural abilities to extract and transform pollutants, while also harnessing the power of rhizosphere bacteria to break down contaminants (rhizodegradation) and promote plant growth, especially under stressful, polluted conditions.

PhytoRhizoProm: Combining Plants, Microbes and Genomics for Soil Restoration

Technology ambitious

To further enhance the plant’s ability to transform pollutants, genomic editing is used to introduce specific bacterial genes into the plant. These genes enable the plant to cleave aromatic rings – a critical step in breaking down many persistent pollutants.

Together, the plant and its associated microbes form a holobiont – a tightly integrated biological unit – that offers a more efficient and environmentally friendly approach to ecological restoration.

Results of technology development - reached impact

Expected enhanced pollutant degradation: Plants with integrated bacterial genes showed increased capacity to cleave aromatic rings, leading to faster degradation of persistent organic pollutants.
Improved plant growth under contaminated conditions, thanks to synergistic interaction with plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria.
Increased biomass production, leading to higher pollutant uptake and soil restoration potential.

Initial implementations suggest a more efficient and environmentally friendly remediation approach compared to conventional methods.

Further validation at field scale is planned, aiming to establish cost-effectiveness, scalability, and long-term sustainability of the technology.

Summary

PhytoRhizoProm combines phytoremediation, rhizodegradation and plant growth promotion into one integrated technology for soil restoration. By strengthening plant–microbe interactions and applying genomic tools, the approach improves the degradation of persistent pollutants while supporting healthier plant growth in contaminated environments.

The technology demonstrates how nature-based solutions and biotechnology can work together to create more sustainable and efficient environmental remediation methods.

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