Heavy metal pollution is one of the most devastating abiotic factors, significantly damaging
crops and human health. One of the serious problems it causes is a rise in cadmium (Cd) toxicity. Cd
is a highly toxic metal with a negative biological role, and it enters plants via the soil–plant system.
Cd stress induces a series of disorders in plants’ morphological, physiological, and biochemical
processes and initiates the inhibition of seed germination, ultimately resulting in reduced growth.
Fiber crops such as kenaf, jute, hemp, cotton, and flax have high industrial importance and often face
the issue of Cd toxicity. Various techniques have been introduced to counter the rising threats of Cd
toxicity, including reducing Cd content in the soil, mitigating the effects of Cd stress, and genetic
improvements in plant tolerance against this stress. For decades, plant breeders have been trying to
develop Cd-tolerant fiber crops through the identification and transformation of novel genes. Still, the
complex mechanism of Cd tolerance has hindered the progress of genetic breeding. These crops are
ideal candidates for the phytoremediation of heavy metals in contaminated soils. Hence, increased
Cd uptake, accumulation, and translocation in below-ground parts (roots) and above-ground parts
(shoots, leaves, and stems) can help clean agricultural lands for safe use for food crops. Earlier studies
indicated that reducing Cd uptake, detoxification, reducing the effects of Cd stress, and developing
plant tolerance to these stresses through the identification of novel genes are fruitful approaches. This
review aims to highlight the role of some conventional and molecular techniques in reducing the
threats of Cd stress in some key fiber crops. Molecular techniques mainly involve QTL mapping
and GWAS. However, more focus has been given to the use of transcriptome and TFs analysis to
explore the potential genomic regions involved in Cd tolerance in these crops. This review will serve
as a source of valuable genetic information on key fiber crops, allowing for further in-depth analyses
of Cd tolerance to identify the critical genes for molecular breeding, like genetic engineering and
CRISPR/Cas9.