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Review article2023Peer reviewed

Zinc and nano zinc mediated alleviation of heavy metals and metalloids in plants: an overview

Jalil, Sanaullah; Nazir, Muhammad Mudassir; Ali, Qurban; Zulfiqar, Faisal; Moosa, Anam; Altaf, Muhammad Ahsan; Zaid, Abbu; Nafees, Muhammad; Yong, Jean Wan Hong; Jin, Xiaoli

Abstract

Heavy metals and metalloids (HMs) contamination in the environment has heightened recently due to increasing global concern for food safety and human livability. Zinc (Zn2+) is an important nutrient required for the normal development of plants. It is an essential cofactor for the vital enzymes involved in various biological mechanisms of plants. Interestingly, Zn2+ has an additional role in the detoxification of HMs in plants due to its unique biochemical-mediating role in several soil and plant processes. During any exposure to high levels of HMs, the application of Zn2+ would confer greater plant resilience by decreasing oxidative stress, maintaining uptake of nutrients, photosynthesis productivity and optimising osmolytes concentration. Zn2+ also has an important role in ameliorating HMs toxicity by regulating metal uptake through the expression of certain metal transporter genes, targeted chelation and translocation from roots to shoots. This review examined the vital roles of Zn2+ and nano Zn in plants and described their involvement in alleviating HMs toxicity in plants. Moving forward, a broad understanding of uptake, transport, signalling and tolerance mechanisms of Zn2+/zinc and its nanoparticles in alleviating HMs toxicity of plants will be the first step towards a wider incorporation of Zn2+ into agricultural practices.

Keywords

antioxidant; heavy metals; metalloids; nanoparticles; pollution; phytoremediation; reactive oxygen species; zinc

Published in

Functional Plant Biology
2023, Volume: 50, number: 11, pages: 870-888

    Sustainable Development Goals

    Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
    End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
    Soil Science
    Botany

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/FP23021

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/121982