Engineered bacterium-binding protein promotes root recruitment of functional bacteria for enhanced cadmium removal from wastewater by phytoremediation

•Design of the synthetic protein LcGC is based on the LCCL and CBD domains.•LcGC has strong capacity to bind glucan, liposaccharide, and teichoic acid.•LcGC assists root recruitment and colonization of functional bacteria.•LcGC enhances growth and stress tolerance of plants with functional bacteria.•LcGC improves cadmium removal by the plants with functional bacteria.