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Integration of physio-biochemical, biological and molecular approaches to improve heavy metal tolerance in plants

Summary

Heavy metals in soil can poison plants and damage crops, reducing food safety. Plants have natural defense systems that can be strengthened through adding minerals like silicon and boron, applying plant hormones, using specially designed nanoparticles, and improving soil quality. This review explains how different combinations of these approaches can help plants survive in contaminated soil and produce safer food.

Background

Heavy metal toxicity in plants causes oxidative stress, reduces biomass, impairs photosynthesis, and can lead to plant death. Plants possess inherent defense mechanisms including metal sequestration, phytochelation, and antioxidant systems. Understanding plant responses to heavy metal stress is essential for developing effective remediation strategies.

Objective

This review comprehensively examines physio-biochemical, biological, and molecular approaches to enhance heavy metal and metalloid tolerance in plants. It compares these mitigative strategies between monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants and provides a comparative analysis of plant responses to various treatment approaches.

Results

Multiple approaches effectively enhance metal tolerance including silicon supplementation, boron and selenium application, phytohormone treatment, nanoparticle application, and soil amendments. Monocots generally show improved root-based mechanisms while dicots accumulate more protective compounds. Silicon reduces metal uptake and translocation while enhancing antioxidant systems.

Conclusion

Integrated physio-biochemical, biological, and molecular approaches can effectively mitigate heavy metal toxicity in plants. Both monocots and dicots benefit from these strategies but respond differently based on morphological and physiological characteristics. These approaches offer sustainable solutions for metal-contaminated agricultural systems.
  • Published in:3 Biotech,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 40060292
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