Update on mechanisms involved in arsenic and chromium accumulation, translocation and homeostasis in plants

GONZALEZ P; TALANO M.; WEVAR OLLER AL; IBAÑEZ S; MEDINA MI; AGOSTINI E

Heavy Metal Remediation: Transport and Accumulation in Plants

NOVA SCIENCE PUBLISHERS

Año: 2014; p. 45 - 72

Arsenic (As) and chromium (Cr) are toxic heavy metals frequently found at high concentrations in polluted environments. The increasing interest in the study of these contaminants is related to the importance and urgency of their removal. Although different technologies have been developed for this purpose, phytoremediation has emerged as an attractive methodology due to its multiple advantages; it is environmentally friendly and potentially cost effective. In this sense, significant progress has been achieved in elucidating the mechanisms involved in As and Cr metabolism in hyperaccumulator, nonhyperaccumulator, land and aquatic plants. However, more advances regarding As than Cr have been obtained. In this chapter it is presenteda review on physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in As and Cr uptake, accumulation, translocation and homeostasis in plants. New reports in genetically modified plants for these heavy metals remediation are also mentioned. In this sense, the role of ?omics? technology is discussed and suggested as an alternative for unraveling less explored aspects; mainly those related to Cr. Certainly, progress in knowledge will allow to assess the feasibility of more effective phytoremediation strategies as well as to develop more tolerant plants and/or heavy metals free-plants for safe consumption.