Exploring cadmium tolerance and accumulation of fibre plants by using plant-bacteria associations

Cadmium is a heavy metal used in many important industrial applications. However, there are serious concerns over its effects on human health due to its toxicity. This study aimed to use fibre plants for removing cadmium from soil and water. To achieve these objectives, the utilization of plant-bacteria interactions assisted by molecular biology techniques were investigated. The main findings showed that two fibre plants, namely flax and sunn hemp have potentials to act as cadmium hyper-accumulators. In addition, the findings also made significant new contributions to the fields of environmental remediation and plant biotechnology.