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The role of roots and rhizosphere in providing tolerance to toxic metals and metalloids
  • Dorina Podar,
  • Frans J.M. Maathuis
Dorina Podar
Babes-Bolyai University

Corresponding Author:dorina.podar@gmail.com

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Frans J.M. Maathuis
university of york
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Abstract

Human activity and natural processes have led to widespread dissemination of metals and metalloids, many of which are toxic and have a negative impact on agronomic production. Roots, as the first point of contact, are essential in endowing plants with tolerance to excess metal(loid) in the soil. The most important root responses include: adaptation of transport processes that affect uptake, efflux and long distance transport of metal(loid)s; metal(loid) detoxification within root cells via conjugation to thiol rich compounds and subsequent sequestration in the vacuole; plasticity in root architecture; the presence of bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere that impact on metal(loid) bioavailability; the role of root exudates. In this review we will provide details on these processes and assess their relevance for the detoxification of arsenic, cadmium, mercury and zinc. Furthermore, we will assess if any of these methodologies has been tested in field conditions and whether they are effective in terms of improving crop metal(loid) tolerance.
16 Jun 2021Submitted to Plant, Cell & Environment
17 Jun 2021Submission Checks Completed
17 Jun 2021Assigned to Editor
19 Jun 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Jul 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
17 Jul 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
20 Aug 20211st Revision Received
21 Aug 2021Submission Checks Completed
21 Aug 2021Assigned to Editor
22 Aug 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
22 Aug 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
22 Aug 20212nd Revision Received
23 Aug 2021Submission Checks Completed
23 Aug 2021Assigned to Editor
28 Aug 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 Aug 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Mar 2022Published in Plant, Cell & Environment volume 45 issue 3 on pages 719-736. 10.1111/pce.14188