Effects of Herbicides and Heavy Metals to the Structure and Function of Plant Cells

Dear Colleagues,

Normal development and productivity of plants depend on internal and external factors. Among the external factors that exert detrimental effects to plants are natural and man-made herbicides (which are extensively used in agriculture), heavy metals (which accumulate to high local levels as a result of anthropogenic activities), and organic pollutants (such as bisphenol A) that are widely used in chemical industry for the fabrication of numerous everyday commodities. These agents disturb the structure and function of the plant cells, causing aberrations of cell division, disruption of microtubule systems, and genotoxicity. Numerous studies have revealed profound effects of toxic agents to different plant species, indicating a species-specific response depending on differential gene expression. New efforts address the identification of candidate genes responsible for the discrepancies; these genes are exploited in medicine, chemotherapy, and in agricultural herbicide application. This Special Issue focuses on the existing knowledge of toxic agents-plants interaction and outlines perspectives for future research endeavors. Emphasis is placed on the mechanisms of heavy metal and herbicide action at the cellular and molecular levels.

Prof. Dr. Eleftherios P. Eleftheriou
Guest Editor

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