Chelate-assisted phytoremediation of heavy metals using Brassica species: a review

Heavy metal pollution in soils poses serious environmental challenges, and conventional remediation methods are often expensive and harmful to ecosystems. Chelate-assisted phytoremediation offers a greener alternative by using plants, enhanced with chelating agents, to extract metals from contaminated sites. Among candidate plants, Brassica species such as B. juncea and B. napus stand out for their fast growth, high biomass, and tolerance to metal stress. This review explores the effectiveness of Brassica in chelate-assisted phytoremediation, focusing on their ability to absorb metals and other contaminants. It examines the role of commonly reported chelating agents in enhancing metal uptake and discusses associated morphological and physiological changes in Brassica plants. The paper highlights key findings and current challenges to optimize the use of Brassica species in sustainable soil remediation. This paper also identifies gaps in current research, including limited field studies and potential ecological risks associated with chelate use, and proposes directions for future studies.