Abstract
The gradual increase in environmental contamination by toxic heavy metals is a serious concern for biotic communities, and since plants are immobile and stationary, they are highly exposed to heavy metal toxicity during changing environmental conditions. Thus efforts are being made to recognize plant stress response and tolerance strategies to cope with heavy metal stress. Plants produce low-molecular weight thiols that show high affinity for toxic metals. This chapter highlights the significance of thiol compounds in relation to metal hyperaccumulation and tolerance in plants. The most important biological thiols discussed are glutathione (GSH), cysteine, phytochelatins (PC), and metallothioneins (MT). Further, this chapter overviews the future perspectives related to role of thiol compounds in metal phytoextraction or hyperaccumulation mechanisms in plants.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
