Beginning Heavy metals in the environment and effect on plants

Industrial revolution in 18th century Burning Fossil fuels Rapid industrialization Mining & Smelting Sewage Sludge Chemical Fertilizers Pesticides& Herbicides

Heavy metals- essentials/nonessentials & Benefecials

Cu-Photosynthesis Zn- connecting between DNA binding proteins &hydrolytic enzymes Ni-activation of enzymes Co-for nitrogen fixation Cd,Hg,Cr- non essential

Availability & Uptake

Persistence Bonding of ve(soil) & +ve (metal)charge Metal binds with OH,COOH & phenolic group of soil and 98% of metal binds with inorganic compounds in the soil In terrestrial system,metal enter into the plant through root hair-cortex & in aquatic system through foliage,crack on the cuticle or stomata-plasmolema etc.

Physiological effects of metal in plants

Cellular interaction
Stored in epidermis,parenchyma,cholenchyma,vacuolar compartments H+-ATPase works for pumping the proton in both PM and Tonoplast Transporter proteins in membrane works as carrier & channels for metal transport These proteins classified as phytochelatins(PC),metallothioneinine (MT)originated from plant & animal respectively Proteins binds with metals and also work as a chelater Some organic acids help to transport metals from root to shoot

Metabolism
Heavy metals(Ni,Cd) induce oxidative stress as they work as free radicles Response and tolerance of metal stress on plants depends upon concentration level and essentiality of the metal Enzymic activity (anti-oxidant) and production of amino acid due to heavy metal exposure

Reproduction
Cd,Pb disturb mitotic cell division(mitotic index) Germination rate& (80-90%) & pollentube length (90-95%) decreases as in tobaccoo due to Ni, Cd & Hg exposure Pectin-calcium based pollen tube cell complexed with metal and reduce cell elasticity Heavy metals cause disturbances in plumule and radicale

Photosynthesis
Leaf chlorosis & stunting Electron transport in PSII,phosphorylation and NADPH Reduce chlorophyll pigment & alter leaf structure PSI and Carotenoid pigment are less disturbed

Resistance strategies of plants

Avoidance Metal uptake exclusion,enzymatic change,binding with cell-wall and other cell components Tolerance Binding with MT/PC,vacuole compartmentilization,leaf fall,volatilization,decaying of barks,leaching from leaf,fluid secretion from xylem and hydrathods

Remedy-Phytoremediation
Metal uptake feature can be used for phytoremediation technology It is a treatment of environmental problems (bioremediation) through the use of plants that mitigate the environmental problem without the need to excavate the contaminant material and dispose of it elsewhere. Phytoremediation consists in mitigating pollutant concentrations in contaminated soils, water, or air, with plants able to contain, degrade, or eliminate metals, pesticides, solvents, explosives, crude oil and its derivatives, and various other contaminants from the media that contain them.

Phytoremediation-Advantages
the cost of the phytoremediation is lower than that of traditional processes both in situ and ex situ the plants can be easily monitored the possibility of the recovery and re-use of valuable metals (by companies specializing in phyto mining) it is potentially the least harmful method because it uses naturally occurring organisms and preserves the environment in a more natural state.

Phytoremediation-Limitations
phytoremediation is limited to the surface area and depth occupied by the roots. slow growth and low biomass require a long-term commitment with plant-based systems of remediation, it is not possible to completely prevent the leaching of contaminants into the groundwater (without the complete removal of the contaminated ground, which in itself does not resolve the problem of contamination) the survival of the plants is affected by the toxicity of the contaminated land and the general condition of the soil. bio-accumulation of contaminants, especially metals, into the plants which then pass into the food chain, from primary level consumers upwards and/or requires the safe disposal of the affected plant material.