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Genetic and Molecular Diversity Underlying Metal Tolerance and Homeostasis in Plants

A Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067) belonging to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1130

Editors

College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Interests: abiotic stress; vegetables; fruit development; fruit maturation; edible fungi
Institute of Fruits and Vegetables, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 838100, China
Interests: grapevine; fruit development; biotic and abiotic stress
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Guest Editor
Agricultural Genomics Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
Interests: fruit genomics; strawberries; cherries; grapevine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite submissions for a Special Issue dedicated to the genetic and molecular diversity underlying metal tolerance and homeostasis in plants. Metals such as iron, zinc, and copper are essential micronutrients for plant growth and development, while non-essential metals like cadmium, lead, and mercury pose significant toxicity risks, threatening global food security and crop productivity. Understanding the complex mechanisms by which plants regulate metal uptake, transport, sequestration, and detoxification is fundamental to developing stress-resilient crops with improved nutritional quality and reduced heavy metal accumulation.

This Special Issue welcomes contributions that explore the genetic and molecular diversity governing metal tolerance and homeostasis across plant species, populations, and cultivars. We welcome papers investigating the crosstalk between metal homeostasis and other stress responses, including oxidative stress, and hormone signaling networks. Multi-omics approaches integrating transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and ionomics are of high interest, as they provide systems-level insights into metal tolerance mechanisms.

By bringing together cutting-edge research on the genetic and molecular diversity of metal tolerance and homeostasis, this Special Issue aims to accelerate the translation of fundamental discoveries into practical applications for sustainable agriculture, food safety, and improved human nutrition.

Dr. Yu Pan
Dr. Vivek Yadav
Dr. Bilal Ahmad
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • genetic regulation
  • expression
  • genomics
  • metal
  • oxidative stress
  • natural diversity
  • homeostasis
  • hormone signaling networks

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

31 pages, 2684 KB  
Review
Heavy Metals in Agriculture: Sources, Industrial Applications, Plant Toxicity, and Remediation Approaches
by Muhammad Musa Khan, Baoli Qiu and Zengrong Zhu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(14), 6192; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27146192 - 10 Jul 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 820
Abstract
Heavy metal pollution has become a critical concern in agricultural ecosystems driven by a complex matrix of industrial practices, high-input fertilizers, metal-based agrochemicals, and wastewater irrigation. While the previous literature typically highlights general physiological symptoms of heavy metal stress, this review provides a [...] Read more.
Heavy metal pollution has become a critical concern in agricultural ecosystems driven by a complex matrix of industrial practices, high-input fertilizers, metal-based agrochemicals, and wastewater irrigation. While the previous literature typically highlights general physiological symptoms of heavy metal stress, this review provides a novel, comprehensive framework that bridges three independent pillars: specific industrial applications dictating elemental pathway, localizes active root-zone transport kinetics, and an engineering-based evaluation of emerging remediation strategies. We systematically synthesized literature from 2000 to 2026 across major databases (WoS, PubMed and Google Scholar), applying strict inclusion criteria based on data validation, experimental reproducibility, and mechanistic depth. We examine the geochemical behavior, cellular toxicity, and plant resilience mechanics of seven priority elements like cadmium, lead, arsenic, aluminum, mercury, chromium and molybdenum. Rather than merely reiterating superficial visual damage like chlorosis or stunted growth, we focus on physiological and molecular root causes of phytotoxicity, including the structural hijacking of essential nutrient networks, intracellular reduction cascades and organelle-specific oxidative disruption. This review also discussed the discovery of specialized, energy-dependent eukaryotic transport mechanisms like ABC transporters and a comparative operational blueprint evaluating physical–chemical conventional remediation techniques against advanced in situ and ex situ biotechnological approaches, including biochar assistance, microbial engineering, rhizosphere synergies, and engineered nanomaterials. By systematically linking industrial source dynamics with cellular toxicological mechanisms and field-scale engineering feasibility, this review establishes an actionable roadmap for future genetic, agronomic, and management interventions aimed at securing global food. Full article
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