Molecular Mechanisms and Mitigation Strategies for Heavy Metal Stress Decoding in Crop Plants
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant–Soil Interactions".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 38
Special Issue Editors
Interests: biotechnology; heavy metals; ionomics; phytobacteriology; phytoremediation; signaling molecules
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Heavy metal contamination of agricultural soil, arising from both natural and anthropogenic activities, poses a severe threat to global food security and ecosystem health. The presence of metals such as cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury inhibits crucial plant processes, including seed germination, photosynthetic efficiency, and nutrient uptake, primarily through the induction of oxidative stress and disruption of enzymatic functions. Addressing this challenge requires a deep understanding of plant defense mechanisms at the physiological, biochemical, and molecular level. This Special Issue aims to highlight cutting-edge research that elucidates these intricate tolerance mechanisms: from signaling pathways and gene regulation to metal homeostasis and detoxification. Furthermore, we encourage submissions to explore innovative mitigation strategies designed to bolster crop resilience. This includes advances in genetic engineering, the application of beneficial microorganisms, the use of soil amendments, and the development of priming techniques. We welcome original research, reviews, and short communications that contribute to the development of sustainable solutions for alleviating heavy metal stress in crops, ultimately aiming to ensure food safety and support sustainable agricultural practices in contaminated environments.
Prof. Dr. Marshall Keyster
Dr. Arun Gokul
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. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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
- antioxidant defense
- crop plant tolerance
- genetic engineering
- heavy metal stress
- ion homeostasis
- molecular mechanisms
- phytohormone signaling
- phytoremediation
- omics approaches
- oxidative stress
- stress priming
- sustainable agriculture
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
