Premium
The potential of genetic engineering of plants for the remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals
Author(s) -
Fasani Elisa,
Manara Anna,
Martini Flavio,
Furini Antonella,
DalCorso Giovanni
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/pce.12963
Subject(s) - phytoremediation , metalloid , land reclamation , environmental remediation , context (archaeology) , bioremediation , pollutant , biomass (ecology) , environmental chemistry , soil contamination , detoxification (alternative medicine) , soil water , heavy metals , environmental science , chemistry , contamination , biology , metal , ecology , paleontology , organic chemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
The genetic engineering of plants to facilitate the reclamation of soils and waters contaminated with inorganic pollutants is a relatively new and evolving field, benefiting from the heterologous expression of genes that increase the capacity of plants to mobilize, stabilize and/or accumulate metals. The efficiency of phytoremediation relies on the mechanisms underlying metal accumulation and tolerance, such as metal uptake, translocation and detoxification. The transfer of genes involved in any of these processes into fast‐growing, high‐biomass crops may improve their reclamation potential. The successful phytoextraction of metals/metalloids and their accumulation in aerial organs have been achieved by expressing metal ligands or transporters, enzymes involved in sulfur metabolism, enzymes that alter the chemical form or redox state of metals/metalloids and even the components of primary metabolism. This review article considers the potential of genetic engineering as a strategy to improve the phytoremediation capacity of plants in the context of heavy metals and metalloids, using recent case studies to demonstrate the practical application of this approach in the field.