Volume 47, Issue 9 pp. 1025-1035
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Molecular Mechanisms and Genetic Basis of Heavy Metal Tolerance/Hyperaccumulation in Plants

Xiao-E YANG

Corresponding Author

Xiao-E YANG

Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health of Ministry of Education, College of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310029, China

*Author for correspondence. Tel (Fax):+86 (0)571 8697 1907; E-mail: 〈[email protected]〉.Search for more papers by this author
Xiao-Fen JIN

Xiao-Fen JIN

Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health of Ministry of Education, College of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310029, China

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Ying FENG

Ying FENG

Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health of Ministry of Education, College of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310029, China

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Ejazul ISLAM

Ejazul ISLAM

Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health of Ministry of Education, College of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310029, China

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First published: 30 August 2005
Citations: 88

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (20477039) and the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (Z504219).

Abstract

Abstract: Phytoremediation has gained increased attention as a cost-effective method for the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated sites. Because some plants possess a range of potential mechanisms that may be involved in the detoxification of heavy metals, they manage to survive under metal stresses. High tolerance to heavy metal toxicity could rely either on reduced uptake or increased plant internal sequestration, which is manifested by an interaction between a genotype and its environment. The growing application of molecular genetic technologies has led to increased understanding of mechanisms of heavy metal tolerance/accumulation in plants and, subsequently, many transgenic plants with increased heavy metal resistance, as well as increased uptake of heavy metals, have been developed for the purpose of phytoremediation. In the present review, our major objective is to concisely evaluate the progress made so far in understanding the molecular/cellular mechanisms and genetic basis that control the uptake and detoxification of metals by plants.

(Managing editor: Ping HE)

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