Chapter1 - Uptake and translocation mechanisms of metals/metalloids in plants through soil and water

Abstract

The uncontrolled release of toxic heavy metals (HMs) or metalloids (MTs) to soils from anthropogenic activities (mainly) imposed severe threats to living organisms. The extra accumulation of these HMs/MTs in soil–water interface can contaminate the food chains and associated health risks due to the consumption of edible plant parts by humans. To improve the food security, it is perquisites to minimize the extra accumulation of HMs/MTs from soil or water to plant system. Thus, the complete understandings of the uptake and translocation of these HMs or MTs in plant tissues from soil–water interface is critical to monitor or control the toxic impacts of HMs/MTs on water–soil–plant systems. In this chapter, we have explained the involvement of potential protein transporters in soil–root–shoot transport (via symplast/apoplast pathways), speciation, metabolism of HMs/MTs inside plants. Different soil characteristics such as pH, redox potential, organic matter, microbial activities and competition with essential nutrients directly/indirectly influence the bioavailability and transport of HMs/MTs in soil–plant system. The greater understandings of HMs/MTs uptake and transport mechanisms can help plant scientists to develop metal ions tolerant plant species to avoid the risk associated with these metal ions.