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Metal–Plant Interactions: Toxicity and Tolerance

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Biomanagement of Metal-Contaminated Soils

Part of the book series: Environmental Pollution ((EPOL,volume 20))

Abstract

Plants are primarily exposed to metals through the soil from where they may be absorbed by root tissues and transported into the shoots. The presence of metals at toxic levels can elicit a wide range of visible and physiological symptoms in plants. In addition to deformation and discoloration of tissues, effects include inhibition of seed germination, decreased root and shoot growth, decreased rates of photosynthesis and transpiration, damage to proteins and membranes, nutrient imbalances, and altered enzyme activity. Some metals cause oxidative stress through their participation in reactions that produce reactive oxygen species. Oxidative stress results in a range of general effects including damage to membranes and a range of biomolecules. Other effects of metals include direct substitution in biomolecules and conformational changes in proteins and enzymes. Plants respond to toxicity by either producing metal-binding compounds such as phytochelatins, sequestering metals into specific tissues, or by addressing oxidative damage via the antioxidant system. Metal tolerance may be enhanced through systems already utilized by plants, including chelators, phytohormones, and relationships with soil microorganisms. This chapter outlines the plant uptake of metals and their effects, in addition to mechanisms by which plants tolerate high metal levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Anthea Johnson, Naresh Singhal & Marya Hashmatt

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  1. Anthea Johnson
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  2. Naresh Singhal
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  1. Fac. Agricultural Sciences, Dept. Agricultural Microbiology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Mohammad Saghir Khan

  2. Fac. Agricultural Sciences, Dept. Agricultural Microbiology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Almas Zaidi

  3. , Department of Microbiology, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agricu, Pantnagar, 263145, India

    Reeta Goel

  4. , Department of Zoology, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Javed Musarrat

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Johnson, A., Singhal, N., Hashmatt, M. (2011). Metal–Plant Interactions: Toxicity and Tolerance. In: Khan, M., Zaidi, A., Goel, R., Musarrat, J. (eds) Biomanagement of Metal-Contaminated Soils. Environmental Pollution, vol 20. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1914-9_2

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