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Agronomy
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Heavy Metal Tolerance Mechanism of Plants and Improvement in Contaminated...
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Heavy Metal Tolerance Mechanism of Plants and Improvement in Contaminated Soil—2nd Edition

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 4859

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xiaojiao Han

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Guest Editor
Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou, 311400, China
Interests: Abiotic stress; physiological mechanism; molecular mechanism; gene regulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yuping Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China
Interests: improvement of contaminated soils; aboitic stresses; physiogical mechanism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yikai Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China
Interests: improvement of contaminated soils; aboitic stresses; physiogical mechanism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Heavy metal (HM) pollution caused by anthropogenic activities, such as mining, smelting, and fertilizer application, is increasing worldwide, and these activities cause HMs to leach into groundwater or accumulate on the soil surface. HMs can be absorbed and can accumulate in plants, and then enter the human body through the food chain. Although many metals are essential for plant cells (e.g., copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn)), all metals are toxic at high concentrations. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the tolerance or accumulation mechanism of plants to heavy metals, to establish comprehensive treatment technology regarding plant–soil interactions and achieve the treatment of contaminated soil.

The Special Issue “Heavy Metal Tolerance Mechanism of Plants and Improvement in Contaminated Soil” will publish comprehensive reviews and original research articles that cover the latest and novel discoveries on the mechanism of heavy metal tolerance in plants and the improvement in contaminated soil, including metals such as Cd, Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe, Se, and Pb.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Molecular or physiological mechanisms of heavy metal tolerance or accumulation;
  2. Integration of transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics in heavy metal response;
  3. Comprehensive treatment technology of plant–soil interactions for contaminated soil;
  4. The genetic transformation of plants in their adaptation to heavy metal stresses.

Dr. Xiaojiao Han
Dr. Yuping Zhang
Dr. Yikai Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • heavy metals
  • tolerance and accumulation
  • molecular mechanism
  • physiological mechanism
  • improvement of contaminated soils

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 6060 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification of Heavy Metal ATPase Family in Aegilops tauschii and Functional Verification of AetHMA4 and AetHMA8
by Xiaolin Liang, Xiaofang Zhang, Yibo Li, Yifan Ding, Hongying Li, Ziyuan Hao, Ning Wang and Xiaojiao Han
Agronomy 2025, 15(3), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15030714 - 15 Mar 2025
Viewed by 385
Abstract
Aegilops tauschii, a monocotyledonous annual grass, recognized as a pivotal progenitor of modern wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), serves as the D-genome donor in hexaploid wheat. This diploid species (2n = 2x = 14, DD) harbors a substantial reservoir of genetic diversity, [...] Read more.
Aegilops tauschii, a monocotyledonous annual grass, recognized as a pivotal progenitor of modern wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), serves as the D-genome donor in hexaploid wheat. This diploid species (2n = 2x = 14, DD) harbors a substantial reservoir of genetic diversity, particularly in terms of biotic and abiotic stress resistance traits. The extensive allelic variation present in its genome has been increasingly utilized for wheat genetic enhancement, particularly through introgression breeding programs aimed at improving yield potential and stress resilience. Heavy metal ATPases (HMAs), which belong to the P-type ATPase superfamily and are also known as P1B-type ATPases, play a crucial role in transporting heavy metals and maintaining metal ion homeostasis in plant cells. HMAs have been extensively studied in model plants like Arabidopsis thaliana and rice. However, this family has not been reported in A. tauschii. Here, we conducted the genome-wide identification and bioinformatics analysis of the AetHMA gene family in A. tauschii, resulting in the discovery of a total of nine AetHMA members. Among AetHMA genes, six pairs are large-block duplication genes, which mainly occur among the four genes of AetHMA2, AetHMA4, AetHMA8, and AetHMA9. Additionally, there is one pair that consists of tandem duplication genes (AetHMA6: AetHMA7). All AetHMAs can be classified into six groups (I–VI), which are further divided into two branches: the copper subclasses and the zinc subclasses. Initially, A. tauschii was grown in a 1/2 Hoagland nutrient solution and subsequently exposed to four heavy metals: zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and cadmium (Cd). Following this treatment, the expression profiles of nine AetHMA genes were assessed. The results indicated that, under zinc and manganese stress, the HMA family members exhibited enhanced expression in the leaves, whereas the expression of most members in the roots was downregulated. In the roots, except for AetHMA2, AetHMA5, and AetHMA8, the expression levels of other members were upregulated in response to Cd exposure. Furthermore, AetHMA4 diminishes the tolerance of yeast to Mn by increasing the absorption of Mn, while AetHMA8 increases the tolerance of yeast to Cd by reducing the absorption of Cd. This study provides experimental data regarding the function of the AetHMA gene in the transport, regulation, and detoxification of heavy metal elements in A. tauschii. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heavy Metal Tolerance Mechanism of Plants and Improvement in Contaminated Soil—2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 1691 KiB  
Article
Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer Management on Cadmium Concentration in Brown Rice
by Ye Zhang, Yusheng Zhang, Peng Chen, Huan Xiao and Hejun Ao
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2488; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112488 - 24 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1002
Abstract
The technology for reducing cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice is being explored globally. In this study, the ratios of nitrogen fertilizers used were 5:5:0:0 (T1), 4:4:2:0 (T2), 6:0:2:2 (T3), and 3:2:2:3 (T4). The objective of the pot experiment was to understand how nitrogen [...] Read more.
The technology for reducing cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice is being explored globally. In this study, the ratios of nitrogen fertilizers used were 5:5:0:0 (T1), 4:4:2:0 (T2), 6:0:2:2 (T3), and 3:2:2:3 (T4). The objective of the pot experiment was to understand how nitrogen management can reduce Cd accumulation in rice by influencing soil pH, the bioavailability of Cd concentrations in soil, Cd adsorption by iron membranes on rice roots, and the transport of mineral elements. The results indicated that nitrogen fertilizer application acidifies the soil and increases the bioavailable Cd concentration. A correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between Cd concentration in the Fe plaque on rice roots and Cd concentration in the roots. Overall, the application of nitrogen fertilizers increased the concentrations of Cd and mineral elements in rice tissues, particularly in Cu, Mn, and Zn, but reduced the transfer of Cd between tissues. After nitrogen application, the concentrations of mineral elements in brown rice significantly increased, with negative correlations being observed between the Cu, Mn, and Zn concentrations and Cd concentration in brown rice. The brown rice with a nitrogen fertilizer proportion of 6:0:2:2 exhibited the lowest Cd concentration, showing significant reductions of 48.04% (X13H) and 43.46% (YZX) compared to the control treatment. These findings suggest that nitrogen management can enhance the coefficients of mineral element uptake in rice, compete against the transport of Cd to the grains, and that late-growth-stage nitrogen application can be more effective in reducing Cd concentration in brown rice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heavy Metal Tolerance Mechanism of Plants and Improvement in Contaminated Soil—2nd Edition)
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21 pages, 5584 KiB  
Article
Glycine Betaine Mitigates Heavy Metal Toxicity in Beta vulgaris (L.): An Antioxidant-Driven Approach
by Ali A. Badawy, Abdullah A. Alamri, Hebat-Allah A. Hussein, Noura F. G. Salem, Abadi M. Mashlawi, Sahar K. M. Kenawy and A. El-Shabasy
Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 797; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040797 - 11 Apr 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2766
Abstract
Plants are often exposed to non-ideal conditions during their growth. The toxicity of heavy metals as abiotic stressors is a significant concern due to their harmful effects on plants. Glycine betaine (GB) is a potent compatible solute that helps plants resist abiotic stresses [...] Read more.
Plants are often exposed to non-ideal conditions during their growth. The toxicity of heavy metals as abiotic stressors is a significant concern due to their harmful effects on plants. Glycine betaine (GB) is a potent compatible solute that helps plants resist abiotic stresses and plays a crucial role in alleviating them. This study aimed to determine the effective role of glycine betaine (0.5 and 1 mM) as a foliar treatment in sugar beet plants to cope with the toxicity of cadmium (50 mg/kg soil) and lead (100 mg/kg soil). The application of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in cultivation soil noticeably suppressed morphological growth attributes, such as chlorophylls, carotenoids, sugars, and proteins. At the same time, the aforementioned levels of heavy metals significantly increased the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants (phenolics and proline) and enzymatic antioxidants (peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, polyphenol oxidase, and catalase) in the root and shoot tissues of sugar beet plants. In contrast, the use of glycine betaine as foliar treatment at 0.5 and 1 mM alleviated the adverse impacts of cadmium and lead by promoting the aforementioned attributes. Furthermore, the application of 1 mM GB was more effective in increasing the contents of phenolics in root by approximately 16% and 29%, phenolics in shoot by about 25% and 10%, peroxidase activity by about 82% and 116%, superoxide dismutase activity by about 56% and 47%, polyphenol oxidase activity by about 9% and 36%, catalase activity by about 19% and 25%, in cadmium- and lead-stressed plants, respectively. Additionally, it reduced the levels of proline in sugar beet tissues. Overall, the application of glycine betaine has the efficacy to counteract the adverse impacts of cadmium and lead toxicity on sugar beet plants by enhancing the metabolic indices as well as the non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heavy Metal Tolerance Mechanism of Plants and Improvement in Contaminated Soil—2nd Edition)
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