Role of Pteris vittata L. in Phytoremediation of Arsenic-contaminated Soil

Arsenic, one of the most abundant toxic elements in the earth’s crust, affects millions of human and animal populations throughout the world. Phytoremediation is a natural process of restoring soil fertility by removal of toxic contaminants by usage of a plant grown in the contaminated soil. In this regard, in 2001, Pteris vittata L. was discovered as the first plant to have the ability to uptake and accumulate arsenic. The fern has been found to assimilate large quantities of arsenic in both its inorganic forms - arsenite (AsIII) and arsenate (AsV). The review enumerates the potentialities of P. vittata as an arsenic hyperaccumulator, with all the evidence and findings from investigations and experimental studies carried out in the last two decades. The consolidated study shows the importance and scope of future utilization of biotechnological approaches of cloning of specific genes from P. vittata for further analysis and the gene transfer from this fern into other plants for effective phytoremediation of contaminated soil.