Genetic engineering for heavy metal/metalloid stress tolerance in plants

• Modern agricultural techniques, anthropogenic activities, fast industrialization and urbanization, and the use of fossil fuels are the sources of significant contamination of the environment with various heavy metals (HMs) and metalloids. HM pollution has an impact on agricultural output and quality. What is more, accumulation of HMs in crops poses a threat to the human health. The problem of contamination of the arable lands with HMs and metalloids has to be addressed in various ways. One of the solutions is plant genetic engineering. Developing and cultivating commercial or industrial crop plants that display increased tolerance to HM-induced stress would let to use HM-affected areas for cultivation. Moreover, HM-tolerant hyperaccumulator plants can be used for phytoremediation of contaminated land. This chapter aims to offer a comprehensive review of current advances in genome transformation for improved plant tolerance to HMs/metalloids with special reference to the overexpression of genes encoding metal transporters, sulfur metabolites, metal chelators, and components of antioxidative system and glyoxalase pathways. In addition, we have discussed the potential of using CRISPR/Cas system in developing HM tolerance in plants.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Botanik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Botany (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Bioteknologi med applikationer på växter och djur -- Växtbioteknologi (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agricultural Biotechnology -- Plant Biotechnology (hsv//eng)

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