Heavy metal contamination in soils can influence plants and animals, often leading to toxicosis. Heavy metals can impact various biochemical processes in plants, including enzyme and antioxidant production, protein mobilization and photosynthesis. Hydrolyzing enzymes play a major role in seed germination. Enzymes such as acid phosphatases, proteases and α-amylases are known to facilitate both seed germination and seedling growth via mobilizing nutrients in the endosperm. In the presence of heavy metals, starch is immobilized and nutrient sources become limited. Moreover, a reduction in proteolytic enzyme activity and an increase in protein and amino acid content can be observed under heavy metal stress. Proline, is an amino acid which is essential for cellular metabolism. Numerous studies have shown an increase in proline content under oxidative stress in higher plants. Furthermore, heat shock protein production has also been observed under heavy metal stress. The chloroplast small heat shock proteins (Hsp) reduce photosynthesis damage, rather than repair or help to recover from heavy metal-induced damage. Heavy metals are destructive substances for photosynthesis. They are involved in destabilizing enzymes, oxidizing photosystem II (PS II) and disrupting the electron transport chain and mineral metabolism. Although the physiological effects of Cd have been investigated thoroughly, other metals such as As, Cr, Hg, Cu and Pb have received relatively little attention. Among agricultural plants, rice has been studied extensively; additional studies are needed to characterize toxicities of different heavy metals on other crops. This review summarizes the current state of our understanding of the effects of heavy metal stress on seed germination and seedling development and highlights informational gaps and areas for future research.

/pdf/heavy-metal-induced-oxidative-stress-on-seed-germination-and-454hxkdxdr.pdf

Heavy metal-induced oxidative stress on seed germination and seedling development: a critical review.

Nanotechnology is a rapidly expanding field that affords the development of materials in nanoscale dimensions that have unique properties and a wide spectrum of applications. Nanomaterials can be found more frequently in agriculture and the food sector. The application of nanomaterials for delivery of nutrients and growth-promoting compounds to plants has become more and more popular, and their utilization at the proper place, at the proper time, in the proper amount and of the proper composition emends the efficacy of fertilizers. This contribution reviews the potential application of various nanocarriers used for delivery of N, P and K macronutrients and plant growth-stimulating nanoscale essential metals nutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Co) as well as carbon-based (single- and multiwalled carbon nanotubes) and non-essential metal (Ti, Ag, Au, Ce, Al)- and metalloid (Si, Se)-based nanomaterials showing beneficial effects on plant growth that could be used in agricultural practice.

Nanomaterials for Delivery of Nutrients and Growth-Promoting Compounds to Plants

The effect of lead on accumulation of Pb; mineral composition in roots, shoots and leafs; growth-development; chlorophyll and water content of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Falcon) seedlings was tested under doses of 0-control, 75, 150 and 300 mgl-1 Pb. Lead accumulation was defined by elevated concentrations as 75 to 300 mgl-1 Pb in root, shoot and leaf tissues. Element uptake by roots, shoots and leafs was negatively affected by in raised lead concentrations, especially in 300 mgl-1 Pb . Root elongation and plant height; root, shoot and leaf fresh and dry biomass; leaf area were negatively affected by increasing lead concentrations. Tissue water content (TWC), growth tolerance index (GTI), chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content limited by lead toxicity.
		
			 
		
			Key words: Lead (Pb), toxicity, growth, nutrient, chlorophyll, water status.

Response of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to lead toxicity: Growth, element uptake, chlorophyll and water content

Nickel has been found a key pollutant in farmlands of central and south China, and understanding of Ni toxicity in rice is of great significance in safety production of rice and remediation of Ni polluted paddy soils. The present study aimed to investigate the uptake and subcellular distribution of Ni, antioxidant production, and osmolyte accumulation of rice (Oryza sativa L., cv. yangliangyou 6) plants exposed to excessive Ni concentrations to gain an insight into Ni-induced phytotoxicity. Results revealed that exposure of rice seedlings to high Ni concentrations resulted a decline in root and shoot lengths and fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW) of rice plants, which are in connection with the depletion of the contents of photosynthetic pigments. Measurement of Ni concentrations in the roots and shoots showed that Ni was mainly accumulated in roots followed by shoots. Moreover, Ni was mainly deposited in soluble fraction and cell wall, than cell organelle, which suggests that both compartments act as crucial defensive barriers against Ni toxicity in rice plants. Ni also induced its toxicity by damaging oxidative metabolism, as indicated by increased level of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content. Furthermore, Ni stress also showed a desynchronized antioxidant system by increasing the activities of catalase, peroxidase, and the contents of ascorbic acid and glutathione, whereas decreasing the activity of superoxide dismutase in the roots and shoots of rice plants. Ni stress also triggered the rate of proline accumulation and decreasing the contents of soluble protein and soluble sugar. In crux, our results suggests that excessive Ni inhibited rice growth and induced oxidative stress through inducing ROS formation, while stimulated enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants system appeared as adaptive mechanisms of rice plants against Ni-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, majority of Ni was located in soluble fraction and modulation in osmolyte accumulation under Ni stress seemed to provide additional defense against oxidative stress.

Nickel stressed responses of rice in Ni subcellular distribution, antioxidant production, and osmolyte accumulation

We have investigated the influence of silicon on higher zinc concentration reducing the growth of aboveground parts by ca 50 % in young maize plants (hybrid Novania) grown in hydroponics. Eight different treatments were used: control, Zn (800 μM ZnSO4·7H2O), Si1/Si2.5/Si5 (1/2.5/5 mM Na2SiO7) and Zn+Si (combination of zinc and all silicon concentrations). The concentration of Zn and Si and their distribution in plants was determined. The growth parameters (length of primary seminal root, leaf area of first and second leaves, fresh and dry weight of below- and above-ground plant parts) of plants grown in various Zn+Si treatments were significantly decreased in comparison to all other treatments. Increasing concentration of Si in combination with Zn treatment and selected hybrid (Novania) resulted in increased physiological stress in comparison to Zn treatment. However, roots and shoots of all Zn+Si treated plants contained significantly lower amount of Zn than Zn treatment. The Si concentration in roots was the same in Si and Zn+Si plants. In general, higher amount of Si was observed in shoots than in roots of Si1- and Si2.5-treated plants and opposite was observed in Si5-treated plants. In spite of significantly decreased root and shoot accumulation of Zn in the presence of Si, no positive effect of Si on Zn toxicity in young maize plants under experimental conditions used in this work and used maize hybrid was observed.

Silicon does not always mitigate zinc toxicity in maize

L. cv. ‘Krasnodarskij 167’) seedlings was examined. Seedling growthwas tested under physiological and sublethal doses of HM, including Pb,Cu, Ni and Zn. Physiological 10–100 mM doses stimulated the growth ofyoung plants, while 1–5 µM induced suppression of growth processes andbiomass accumulation (especially for roots) as well as reduction of leafarea and water disbalance. The extent of such effect depended on thechemical nature and concentration of a heavy metal.

/pdf/growth-of-maize-seedlings-affected-by-different-il1al3oj3s.pdf

Growth of maize seedlings affected by different concentrations of heavy metals

Dynamics of resistance of local dandelion populations to heavy metal pollution of soils

Plant adaptation index to heavy metals

The features of adaptation to heavy metals in different life forms and ecological groups of plants

Handle everyday research tasks with reliable, citation-backed results

Your personal Research Agent to handle research tasks with citation-backed results

Popular Tasks used by Researchers

How can I help with your research?

Meet SciSpace

Get more enhanced response by uploading the PDFs you want me to reference.

No relevant PDFs in your library

SciSpace is the AI research assistant for academics. Run systematic literature reviews on 280M+ papers, and write papers with cited sources. Trusted by 1M+ students, PhDs & researchers.

SciSpace | AI for Research

Analyze PDFs

Code & Manuscripts

Funding & Grants

Literature & Patents

Medical & Clinical Data

Systematic Review

Visualize & Present

Web & Data

Build a Google Scholar-like website for your research.

Build a website

Create charts and images for your research

Create a Chart

Write a paper for submission to a journal

Draft a manuscript

Patent Search

Design eye-catching scientific posters in minutes.

Scientific Poster Generation

Systematic Literature Review

One task is running at the moment. Your messages will be shown right after.

Drag and drop or click here to browse

Loved by <highlight>1 million+</highlight> researchers

Extract a list of specific topics and their sources from unstructured text

Topics

Compare and analyze relevant papers that matches with your search

Papers

Get insights from PDFs and bookmarked papers from your library

My library

Recent searches

Try searching for:

Catch AI-generated content in scholarly and non-scholarly content

{ai} Detector

Ai Writer

Get PDF Summaries, highlighted text explanations 

Chat with PDF

Effortlessly create in-text citations and bibliographies in APA and 2,500 other formats

Citation generator

Get explanations, summaries, and answers on academic papers

Ease up your research workflow with {scispace}'s cohort of exciting AI tools

Elevate your academic writing skills and convey your ideas the way you want

Paraphraser

Explore our range of reading and writing tools

Your file is being prepared and should be ready in a few minutes. If it's a large file, it might take a bit longer. You can close this window, and we'll email you the file when it's done.

You have reached a maximum limit of <strong>{limit}</strong> columns in the table. Remove at least <strong>1</strong> column to add or create another one.

Dmitrij I. Bashmakov

Author Tools

Chat about Author

Papers

Growth of maize seedlings affected by different concentrations of heavy metals

Dynamics of resistance of local dandelion populations to heavy metal pollution of soils

Plant adaptation index to heavy metals

The features of adaptation to heavy metals in different life forms and ecological groups of plants