Roots, Transporters, and Signals: Molecular Insights into Plant Mineral Nutrition and Heavy Metals Stress
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2025 | Viewed by 2
Special Issue Editor
2. Centro Ecotekne via Provinciale Lecce Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Interests: mechanisms of mineral nutrient uptake in plants; impact of heavy metals on plant nutrient homeostasis; role of the rhizosphere microbiome in plant nutrient and heavy metal dynamics; sustainable agricultural practices for managing mineral nutrition and mitigating heavy metal stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Plant mineral nutrition is a finely tuned process involving the uptake, transport, and homeostasis of essential elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc. These processes are tightly regulated at the molecular level through a complex network of transporters, transcription factors, signaling molecules, and hormonal crosstalk.
In parallel, plants are increasingly exposed to non-essential and potentially toxic elements such as cadmium, lead, and arsenic, which can disrupt nutrient acquisition, interfere with cellular functions, and compromise plant health. Understanding the molecular and physiological mechanisms by which plants distinguish between essential and toxic elements is crucial for both sustainable agriculture and environmental management.
This Special Issue aims to gather recent advances in the molecular mechanisms that govern mineral nutrition and heavy metal dynamics in plants. We welcome original research articles and comprehensive reviews covering a range of topics, including (but not limited to):
- Identification, regulation, and function of ion transporters;
- Nutrient sensing and signaling pathways;
- Crosstalk between nutrient uptake and heavy metal detoxification;
- Plant responses to toxic elements at molecular and cellular levels;
- Genetic and biotechnological approaches to enhance nutrient use efficiency;
- Strategies for phytoremediation and resilience to metal-contaminated environments;
- Comparative studies across model species, crops, and wild plants under both controlled and field conditions.
By integrating insights from molecular biology, plant physiology, and environmental sciences, this Special Issue aims to advance our understanding of how plants navigate the dual challenges of mineral nutrition and heavy metal exposure in an increasingly complex environment.
Dr. Alessio Aprile
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- plant mineral nutrition
- heavy metals
- toxic element
- transporter
- signaling pathway
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