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Metal and Metalloid Toxicity in Plants
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Metal and Metalloid Toxicity in Plants

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant–Soil Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 10852

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Paramsothy Jeyakumar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Environmental Sciences Group, School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University of New Zealand, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
Interests: metal and metalloid toxicity in plants; microbial tolerane to soil contamination with toxic metals; controlled-release polymer-coated fertilisers; rhizosphere chemistry; low moecular weight organic acids and mechanism on nutrient uptake by plants; metal speciations
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

To enhance primary sector production and productivity while maintaining and improving land quality for future generations, this generation needs to solve the problems limiting the use of soils for high-value crops. Crops cultivated in soils contaminated with toxic metal(loid)s can take up a high concentration of these metal(loid)s by roots and translocate them to their tissues. The contamination of most versatile soils with metal(loid)s threatens to limit their use for high-value pasture, vegetable, grain, and tuber cropping due to the risk of metal(loid) accumulation in the food chain. The management of the quality and quantity of crops grown in soil contaminated with potentially toxic metal(loid)s is a current challenge. Hence, investigating potential mechanisms that may play roles in metal(loid) uptake and translocation in plants could help to develop mitigation strategies.

This Special Issue of Plants will highlight the rhizosphere chemistry and uptake mechanisms of metal(loid)s, and will propose potential agronomical, microbiological, and molecular biological mitigation strategies to mitigate metal(loid) toxicity in plants.

Dr. Paramsothy Jeyakumar
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • metals
  • metalloids
  • rhizosphere chemistry
  • organic acids
  • contamination
  • mitigation strategies

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 7043 KiB  
Article
Integrated Assessment of Pb(II) and Cu(II) Metal Ion Phytotoxicity on Medicago sativa L., Triticum aestivum L., and Zea mays L. Plants: Insights into Germination Inhibition, Seedling Development, and Ecosystem Health
by Ionela-Catalina Vasilachi-Mitoseru, Vasile Stoleru and Maria Gavrilescu
Plants 2023, 12(21), 3754; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12213754 - 2 Nov 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1577
Abstract
Environmental pollution with heavy metals has become a problem of major interest due to the harmful effects of metal ions that constantly evolve and generate serious threats to both the environment and human health through the food chain. Recognizing the imperative need for [...] Read more.
Environmental pollution with heavy metals has become a problem of major interest due to the harmful effects of metal ions that constantly evolve and generate serious threats to both the environment and human health through the food chain. Recognizing the imperative need for toxicological assessments, this study revolves around elucidating the effects of Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions on three plant species; namely, Medicago sativa L., Triticum aestivum L., and Zea mays L. These particular species were selected due to their suitability for controlled laboratory cultivation, their potential resistance to heavy metal exposure, and their potential contributions to phytoremediation strategies. The comprehensive phytotoxicity assessments conducted covered a spectrum of critical parameters, encompassing germination inhibition, seedling development, and broader considerations regarding ecosystem health. The key metrics under scrutiny included the germination rate, the relative growth of root and stem lengths, the growth inhibition index, and the tolerance index. These accurately designed experiments involved subjecting the seeds of these plants to an array of concentrations of PbCl2 and CuCl2 solutions, enabling an exhaustive evaluation of the phytotoxic potential of these metal ions and their intricate repercussions on these plant species. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the diverse and dynamic responses of different plant species to Pb(II) and Cu(II) metal ions, shedding light on their adaptability and resilience in metal-contaminated environments. These findings have important implications for understanding plant–metal interactions and devising phytoremediation strategies in contaminated ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal and Metalloid Toxicity in Plants)
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18 pages, 2174 KiB  
Article
Differences in Cadmium Uptake and Accumulation in Seedlings of Wheat Varieties with Low- and High-Grain Cadmium Accumulation under Different Drought Stresses
by Yatao Xiao, Wei Guo, Xuebin Qi, Mahmoud S. Hashem, Dezhe Wang and Chaoxiang Sun
Plants 2023, 12(19), 3499; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12193499 - 8 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1357
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) and drought, as abiotic stresses, have long been significant challenges for crop growth and agricultural production. However, there have been relatively few studies conducted on the effects of drought stress on Cd uptake, especially regarding the differences in Cd uptake characterization [...] Read more.
Cadmium (Cd) and drought, as abiotic stresses, have long been significant challenges for crop growth and agricultural production. However, there have been relatively few studies conducted on the effects of drought stress on Cd uptake, especially regarding the differences in Cd uptake characterization in varieties with varying Cd accumulation under different drought stress. To investigate the effects of drought conditions on Cd uptake by wheat in different genotypes under specific background levels of Cd pollution, we validated the differences in root absorption characteristics of low- (YM) and high-grain Cd accumulating wheat genotypes (XM) using non-invasive micro-test technology, and we conducted a hydroponic experiment on the Cd addition and different drought levels in a climate-controlled chamber. The biomass, root morphology, Cd uptake, and accumulation were determined under Cd (100 µmol L−1) and different drought levels of 0% (0 MPa), 5% (−0.100 Mpa), 10% (−0.200 Mpa), and 15% (−0.388 Mpa) simulated by polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000). We found that the simultaneous exposure to Cd and drought had a suppressive effect on the total root lengths, root surface areas, and root volumes of XM and YM, albeit with distinct patterns of variation. As the concentration of PEG-6000 increased, the Cd concentrations and the amount of Cd accumulated in the roots and shoots of XM and YM decreased. Specifically, the Cd concentration in the roots exhibited a reduction ranging from 12.51% to 66.90%, while the Cd concentration in the shoots experienced an even greater decrease of 50.46% to 80.57%. The PEG-6000 concentration was significantly negatively correlated (p < 0.001) with Cd concentration of roots and shoots and Cd accumulation in roots, shoots, and the whole plants and significantly negatively correlated (p < 0.05) with the total length, surface area, and volume of roots. This study confirms that drought stress (5% PEG-6000) can decrease the uptake and accumulation of Cd in wheat seedlings without significant inhibition of biomass, and the change of root morphology (root length) and the decrease of Cd concentration in roots may be the main direct pathways for achieving these effects under drought stress. This research provides a new perspective and idea for water management in Cd-contaminated farmland. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal and Metalloid Toxicity in Plants)
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21 pages, 4276 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Behavior of Cadmium in the Soil Solution–Plant System by the Lysimeter Method Using the 109Cd Radioactive Tracer
by Vyacheslav Anisimov, Lydia Anisimova, Dmitry Krylenkin, Dmitry Dikarev, Andrey Sanzharov, Yuri N. Korneev, Ilya Kostyukov and Yuri G. Kolyagin
Plants 2023, 12(3), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030649 - 1 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1781
Abstract
In soils, cadmium (Cd) and its compounds, originating from industrial activities, differ both in mobility as well as in their ability to permeate the soil solution from naturally occurring cadmium compounds (native Cd). Therefore, the determination of the parameters of cadmium mobility in [...] Read more.
In soils, cadmium (Cd) and its compounds, originating from industrial activities, differ both in mobility as well as in their ability to permeate the soil solution from naturally occurring cadmium compounds (native Cd). Therefore, the determination of the parameters of cadmium mobility in soils and its accumulation by plants in the soil–soil solution–plant system is very important from both scientific and practical viewpoints. 109Cd was used as a radioactive tracer to study the processes of the transition of Cd into the aqueous phase and its uptake by plants over the course of a vegetative lysimeter experiment. Using sequential extraction according to the Tessier–Förstner procedure and modified BCR schemes, certain patterns were determined in the distribution of Cd/109Cd among their forms in various compounds in the soil, along with the coefficients of the enrichment of native stable Cd with radioactive 109Cd. It was shown that the labile pool of stable Cd compounds (29%) was significantly smaller than that of radioactive 109Cd (69%). The key parameters characterizing the migration capacity of Cd in the soil–soil solution–plant system were determined. It was found that the distribution coefficient of native Cd between the soil and the quasi-equilibrium lysimeter solution exceeded the similar value for the 109Cd radionuclide by 2.2 times, and the concentration coefficients of Cd and 109Cd in the barley roots were 9 times higher than in its vegetative parts. During the experiment, the average removal of Cd (109Cd) from the soil by each barley plant was insignificant: 0.002 (0.004)%. Based on the results of 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of a lyophilized sample of the high-molecular-weight dissolved organic matter (HMWDOM) of the soil solution, its components were determined. It transpired that the isolated lyophilized samples of HMWDOM with different molecular weights had an identical structural and functional composition. The selective sorption parameters of the HMWDOM and humic acid (HA) with respect to Cd2+ ions were determined by the isotope dilution method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal and Metalloid Toxicity in Plants)
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16 pages, 1559 KiB  
Article
Plant-Derived Smoke Solution Alleviates Cellular Oxidative Stress Caused by Arsenic and Mercury by Modulating the Cellular Antioxidative Defense System in Wheat
by Muhammad Ibrahim, Sadam Nawaz, Khalid Iqbal, Shafiq Rehman, Riaz Ullah, Ghazala Nawaz, Rafa Almeer, Amany A. Sayed and Ilaria Peluso
Plants 2022, 11(10), 1379; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11101379 - 22 May 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3125
Abstract
Heavy metal stress is a significant factor in diminishing crop yield. Plant-derived smoke (PDS) has been used as a growth promoter and abiotic stress alleviator for the last two decades. Although the roles of PDS have been determined in various plants, its role [...] Read more.
Heavy metal stress is a significant factor in diminishing crop yield. Plant-derived smoke (PDS) has been used as a growth promoter and abiotic stress alleviator for the last two decades. Although the roles of PDS have been determined in various plants, its role in ameliorating heavy metal stress in wheat has not been reported so far. Therefore, the present work was conducted to investigate the effect of smoke solution extracted from a wild lemongrass Cymbopogon jwarancusa (C. jwarncusa) on physiological and biochemical features of wheat under arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) stress. The results showed that higher concentrations of As and Hg pose inhibitory effects on wheat seed germination and seedling growth, including shoot/root length and shoot/root fresh weight. Photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids, were significantly decreased under As and Hg stress. Importantly, the levels of H2O2, lipid peroxidation, and TBARS were increased in wheat seedlings. The activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as CAT, was decreased by As and Hg stress, while the levels of SOD, POD, and APX antioxidant enzymes were increased in root and shoot. Interestingly, the application of PDS (2000 ppm), individually or in combination with either As or Hg stress, enhanced wheat seed germination rate, shoot/root length, and shoot/root fresh weight. However, the levels of H2O2, lipid peroxidation, and TBARS were decreased. Similarly, the levels of SOD, POD, and APX were decreased by PDS under As and Hg stress, while the level of CAT was enhanced by PDS under As and Hg stress. Interestingly, the levels of chlorophyll a and b, and total carotenoids were increased with the application of PDS under As and Hg stress. It is concluded that PDS has the capability to alleviate the phytotoxic effects of As and Hg stress in wheat by modulating the antioxidative defense system and could be an economical solution to reduce the heavy metal stress in crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal and Metalloid Toxicity in Plants)
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9 pages, 438 KiB  
Article
Modelling the Plant Uptake of Metals from Release Rates Obtained by the EUF Method
by Manfred Sager
Plants 2022, 11(1), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11010085 - 28 Dec 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1634
Abstract
In this study, soil dissolution kinetics were evaluated to predict the metal uptake of lettuce plants under varying conditions of fertilisation and metal pollution. Velocities and time dependencies of soil dissolution obtained by electro-ultrafiltration (EUF), which prevents back reaction, were modelled in three [...] Read more.
In this study, soil dissolution kinetics were evaluated to predict the metal uptake of lettuce plants under varying conditions of fertilisation and metal pollution. Velocities and time dependencies of soil dissolution obtained by electro-ultrafiltration (EUF), which prevents back reaction, were modelled in three ways, obtained from suspensions in 0.002 M DTPA at determined soil pH levels, for cases in which sampling versus time led to decreasing concentrations. The models yielded a maximum achievable concentration, a timespan needed for it to be reached, a slope, and an intercept of the respective fitted curves. Three geogenically metalliferous soil samples and one ambient soil sample, both as originals, fertilised with PK or soaked with a Cd-Ni-Pb solution, were used as solid samples. The resulting kinetic parameters were correlated with the amounts absorbed by lettuce plants grown with these substrates in pot experiments, which yielded fairly good correlations with Zn, but also with Li and Sr, as well as Ni and Pb, mainly because of differences due to the addition of a metallic salt solution. Plant growth was hardly influenced by the additions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal and Metalloid Toxicity in Plants)
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