The role of hydrogen sulfide in plant alleviates heavy metal stress

Abstract

With continuing industrial pollution and other human activities, the problem of heavy metal pollution in the environment is becoming more and more serious. Because heavy metal toxicity does not only inhibit plant growth but also causes many adverse health conditions in humans, heavy metal pollution poses a great challenge across the global. As a food security issue, how to minimize the influence of heavy metals stress on plants has become a major topic of research. This paper explores the mechanism of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) as a plant-signaling molecule, which participates in the response to heavy metal stress and enhances plant tolerance to various stresses. Here, we reviewed research progress on the role of H2S in plant response to heavy metal stress and discussed the mechanism by which H2S alleviating heavy metal stress. Moreover, a future research direction is also proposed.