Plant water relations as affected by heavy metal stress: A review
- Barcelona Univ. (Spain)
Metal toxicity causes multiple direct and indirect effects in plants which concern practically all physiological functions. In this review the effects of excess heavy metals and aluminum on those functions which will alter plant water relations are considered. After a brief comment on the metal effects in cell walls and plasma-lemma, and their consequences for cell expansion growth, the influences of high meal availability on the factors which regulate water entry and water exit in plants are considered. Emphasis is placed on the importance of distinguishing between low water availability in mine and serpentine soils and toxicity effects in plants which may impair the ability of a plant to regulate water uptake. Examples on water relations of both plants grown on metalliferous soil and hydroponics are presented, and the effects of metal toxicity on root growth, water transport and transpiration are considered. It is concluded that future research has to focus on the mechanisms of metal-induced inhibition of both root elongation and morphogenetic processes within roots. In order to understand the relation between metal tolerance and drought resistance better, further studies into metal tolerance mechanisms at the cell wall, membrane and vacuolar level, as well as into the mechanisms of drought resistance of plants adapted to metalliferous soils are required. 135 refs., 7 figs., 6 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 5573644
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Plant Nutrition; (USA), Vol. 13:1; ISSN 0190-4167
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ALUMINIUM
TOXICITY
METALS
PLANTS
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
CELL WALL
PLANT GROWTH
SOILS
TRANSPIRATION
WATER
CELL CONSTITUENTS
ELEMENTS
GROWTH
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology