Microbial consortia interactions and bioremediation of pesticides: A review on designing, mechanism and efficacy.

Ecosystems and human health are at serious risk due to the extensive application of pesticides in the agricultural system for controlling pests and diseases. The use of microbial consortia (MicroCons) has emerged as a promising solution for the remediation of pesticide-contaminated soil, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to physical and chemical methods; however, a systematic review on this aspect is still lacking. This comprehensive review provides an in-depth analysis of the current knowledge on microbial consortia-based remediation of pesticides in agricultural soil. Efficacy of single-strain vs multiple strains in MicroCons have been discussed to unravel the workload distribution between microbial strains in pesticide degradation. We also discuss the design and optimization of microbial consortia for remediation, highlighting the role of advanced tools and the mechanisms of MicroCons action. Furthermore, emerging trends and future directions in the field, including the potential of synthetic biology, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI) are also covered. This review aims to critically expand the mechanistic understanding of how microbe-mediated remediation strategies might reduce pesticide phytotoxicity, enhance crop production in pesticide-stressed soils, and inspire future research and practices in MicroCons-based remediation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).