Effect of Heavy Metals on Plants, 2nd Volume

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the successful completion of Volume I of “Effect of Heavy Metals on Plants” and the great interest in this research topic, we are pleased to announce the launch of Volume II.

Currently, scientific inquiries conducted by numerous research groups often focus on expanding our knowledge of the influence of the effects of numerous factors that destabilize plant growth and development. This includes both wild species and those used by humans for various purposes, primarily as sources of food, animal feed, metabolites for human and livestock welfare, wood and various byproducts. Plants are an important material used in landscaping and are essential in some technologies for the remediation of various pollutants from different environmental compartments.

The demand for non-ferrous metals, such as gold, silver, platinum, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, tin, titanium, cadmium, beryllium, bismuth, cobalt, cerium, mercury, chromium, vanadium, tungsten or zirconium, is still very high in various fields of economic activity due to their resistance to rust and corrosion. Most of these metals are useful in electronic equipment, electrical power cables or metal constructions, and many other industrial applications. Therefore, economically viable ore deposits containing these elements continue to be mined around the world. The extraction of ores, their processing and further industrial production are frequently associated with serious environmental pollution. Agroecosystems receive large amounts of heavy metals through water or air, resulting in contamination of crops. An inevitable consequence is an increased incidence of human diseases such as cancer or serious diseases of the cardiovascular system.

In the era of the Green Deal, we should only use ecologically justified technologies for environmental remediation, including phytoremediation techniques that utilize woody and herbaceous plants. Nevertheless, the methodology of this biological process should be tailored to specific in situ conditions, especially when the matrix (soil or water) is contaminated with a mixture of pollutants and the plants are exposed to additional stress factors and soil water deficiency, soil salinity or temperature stress. Alternative approaches include the use of soil amendments and the biotization or mycorrhization of plants to increase their tolerance and thus survival under harsh growing conditions. These aspects of remediation technology are what we should now focus on to significantly reduce the human population’s exposure to contaminated food.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to collect and present the contributions of active groups engaged in basic and applied research on all aspects of plant functioning under stress, especially in terms of effective ecosystem pollution control. Research articles, case studies, reviews and perspectives are all welcome. Even incomplete results and any kind of feedback will be helpful to the entire scientific community involved in research on the above-mentioned topics.

Prof. Dr. Yinbo Gan
Prof. Dr. Martin Backor
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Agriculture agriculture	3.3	4.9	2011	20.2 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Agronomy agronomy	3.3	6.2	2011	15.5 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Forests forests	2.4	4.4	2010	16.9 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Plants plants	4.0	6.5	2012	18.2 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Stresses stresses	-	4.7	2021	20.3 Days	CHF 1000	Submit

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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15 pages, 1416 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A New Approach to Differentiate the Causes of Excessive Cadmium in Rice: Soil Cadmium Extractability or Rice Variety

by Erdange Li, Kun Li, Jumei Li, Yang Wu and Yibing Ma

Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2519; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112519 - 26 Oct 2024

Viewed by 390

Abstract

In order to effectively decrease cadmium (Cd) in rice grains in contaminated paddy soil and maintain the safe production of rice, identifying excessive Cd in rice caused by rice varieties or soil Cd is critical, but it is currently lacking. In the present [...] Read more.

In order to effectively decrease cadmium (Cd) in rice grains in contaminated paddy soil and maintain the safe production of rice, identifying excessive Cd in rice caused by rice varieties or soil Cd is critical, but it is currently lacking. In the present study, the soil ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-extractable Cd (EDTA-Cd) and the bioaccumulation factors of rice based on EDTA-Cd (BCF_EDTA-Cd) were used to develop an approach to identify excessive Cd in rice caused by rice varieties or soil Cd. Based on an empirical soil–plant transfer model and species sensitivity distribution (SSD), BCF_EDTA-Cd and EDTA-Cd were divided into five grades. The results showed that the five grades of the EDTA-Cd (minimum value less than 0.11 mg/kg and maximum value greater than 2.93 mg/kg) and BCF_EDTA-Cd (minimum value less than 0.09 and maximum value greater than 1.40) were classified in the normal soil pH range. Further, the conversion equation between EDTA-Cd and diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-Cd was obtained through linear regression analysis using 67 sets of soil data from the literature. In addition, the four selected rounding thresholds for the percentage of EDTA-Cd to total soil Cd (EDTA-Cd) (%) were 52.5, 67.5, 82.5, and 97.5%. A selected soil EDTA-Cd (%) (about 75%) can be used to identify the status of soil bioavailability, especially in soil with high background Cd. Finally, a set of 1084 pairs of rice and soil data for Cd-contaminated soils was used to investigate the respective contributions of rice varieties and soil Cd when Cd in rice exceeds the limit (0.2 mg/kg). Based on field experiment data, a systematic identification approach for the causes of rice Cd exceeding the limit, soil Cd or rice variety, was established and applied. In conclusion, under Cd exposure conditions, the importance of the causes of Cd in soil and rice varieties can be identified, and their contributions can be distinguished, thus helping to identify the causes of Cd contamination in rice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Effect of Heavy Metals on Plants, 2nd Volume)

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11 pages, 281 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Potential of Helichsryum splendidum (Thunb.) Less. for the Restoration of Sites Polluted with Coal Fly Ash

by Alexis Munyengabe, Ledwaba Samuel Kamogelo, Titus Yeliku-ang Ngmenzuma and Maria Fezile Banda

Plants 2024, 13(18), 2551; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13182551 - 11 Sep 2024

Viewed by 572

Abstract

The disposal of coal fly ash (CFA) generated from coal-fired power stations has serious impact on the ecosystem, by converting large pieces of land to barren ash dams with the potential to contaminate groundwater, surface water, air and soil. The aim of this [...] Read more.

The disposal of coal fly ash (CFA) generated from coal-fired power stations has serious impact on the ecosystem, by converting large pieces of land to barren ash dams with the potential to contaminate groundwater, surface water, air and soil. The aim of this study was to clarify the potential of phytoremediation using Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less. in areas polluted by CFA through conduction of pot trial experiments for 14 weeks. Plants of the same age were cultivated in CFA to assess their growth, photosynthetic rate and tolerance towards metal toxicity. This study revealed that the CFA was moderately polluted with heavy metals, and a lower photosynthetic rate was recorded for the CFA plants in comparison to the controls (plants grown in soil). Although the CO₂ assimilation rate was lower for the CFA plants, increased growth was recorded for all the plants tested. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to quantify the amount of trace elements in samples and parameters including translocation factor (TF) and bioconcentration factor (BCF) were used to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of H. splendidum (Thunb.) Less. The results revealed that higher concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn and Pb were accumulated in the roots, while As, Ni and Zn were found in the shoots. Elements including As, Cr and Zn reported TF values above 1, indicating the plants’ phytoextraction potential. The BCF values for As, Cu and Zn were 1.22, 1.19 and 1.03, indicating effectiveness in the phytostabilization processes. A removal rate efficiency ranging from 18.0 to 56.7% was recorded confirming that, H. splendidum (Thunb.) Less. can be employed for restoration of CFA dams. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Effect of Heavy Metals on Plants, 2nd Volume)

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18 pages, 4467 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Biochar Application Improved Sludge-Amended Landscape Soil Fertility Index but with No Added Benefit in Plant Growth

by Shuangshuang Chu, Mengrui Xiao, Weixin Peng, Fengling Long, Daoming Wu, Dongnan Hu and Shucai Zeng

Forests 2024, 15(7), 1128; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15071128 - 28 Jun 2024

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Abstract

Co-application of sewage sludge (SS) with biochar in landscape/forestry soil is a common strategy for enhancing soil fertility and reducing the bioavailability of potential toxic elements (PTEs) derived from SS, such as Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Ni. However, due to variability of [...] Read more.

Co-application of sewage sludge (SS) with biochar in landscape/forestry soil is a common strategy for enhancing soil fertility and reducing the bioavailability of potential toxic elements (PTEs) derived from SS, such as Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Ni. However, due to variability of biochar quality and uncertainties in responses of different plant species, whether the co-application benefits the landscape/forestry plant system remains elusive. Here, we tested the effectiveness of three types of biochar (SS-derived biochar (SB), rice straw-derived biochar (RB), and litter-derived biochar (LB)), which were added to soil amended with SS at 50% (w/w) at rates of 1.5%, 3%, and 4.5% as growth media for the landscape plant Aglaonema modestum (A. modestum). We analyzed the substrate’s physicochemical properties and assessed the alleviation of phytotoxicity by biochar application. A significant increase in the fertility index of substrate was observed in all the treatments with biochar addition. The addition of biochar reduced the potential mobility of PTEs while increasing their residual fraction in media. Nonetheless, it has been found that the addition of biochar has ineffective or even negative effects on A. modestum growth (height, biomass, root length) and nutrient absorption. Importantly, the reduction in root biomass and the increased activity of root antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, and MDA) indicate contamination stress of biochar on the roots of A. modestum. Toxic elements of concern—namely Cu, Cd, and Pb—were not significantly higher in tissues of A. modestum saplings planted in biochar-SS-amended soil. However, elevated levels of other elements that may pose toxicity concerns, such as Ni and Zn, increased in tissues at high biochar dosages. Based on the Entropy–Weight TOPSIS method, it was further confirmed that compared to the treatment without biochar, all treatments except for 3.0% LB application resulted in poorer A. modestum comprehensive growth. Our results emphasize the need for detailed research on the response of specific plants to biochar in specific environments, including plant adaptability and the unexplored toxicity of biochar, to understand the large variations and mechanisms behind these ineffective or negative effects before the large-scale co-utilization of SS and biochar in landscape/forestry soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Effect of Heavy Metals on Plants, 2nd Volume)

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20 pages, 3772 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Examining Nicotinamide Application Methods in Alleviating Lead-Induced Stress in Spring Barley

by Beata Smolik and Maja Sędzik-Wójcikowska

Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1314; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061314 - 18 Jun 2024

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Abstract

Cereals are a staple food in many regions of the world and are essential for global food security. Lead is one of the most significant environmental stressors, impacting plants throughout their life cycle and causing substantial damage to plant growth and development. It [...] Read more.

Cereals are a staple food in many regions of the world and are essential for global food security. Lead is one of the most significant environmental stressors, impacting plants throughout their life cycle and causing substantial damage to plant growth and development. It disrupts intracellular processes, thereby reducing plant productivity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of exogenously applied vitamin PP (100 µM) (nicotinamide) on the morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters of spring barley var. Eunova under lead stress (1 mM Pb(NO₃)₂) and to determine the most effective method of applying this vitamin in a pot experiment. Vitamin PP was applied exogenously through three different methods: seed soaking, foliar application, and soil irrigation. The application of 1 mM Pb(NO₃)₂ resulted in decreased root (from 13.9% to 19.9%) and shoot length (from 16.2% to 24.8%) and increased catalase (CAT) activity from 45% to 106%, and peroxidase (POX) activity from 39% to 46% compared to the control. Lead stress led to an increase in proline (Pro) content from 30 to 63% and comparatively in malondialdehyde (MDA) content (rising from 61% to 79.4%), as well as elevated assimilatory pigment content (by 35%) in barley grown in the pot experiment. Exogenous vitamin PP significantly and positively influenced the improvement of the measured morphological, biochemical, and physiological parameters, reducing the toxicity of lead salts. It was shown that the most effective method of vitamin PP application was achieved through foliar spraying and irrigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Effect of Heavy Metals on Plants, 2nd Volume)

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23 pages, 2032 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Iron Plaque: A Shield against Soil Contamination and Key to Sustainable Agriculture

by Zeping He, Jinyuan Chen, Shilin Yuan, Sha Chen, Yuanyi Hu, Yi Zheng and Ding Li

Plants 2024, 13(11), 1476; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13111476 - 27 May 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1000

Abstract

Soils play a dominant role in supporting the survival and growth of crops and they are also extremely important for human health and food safety. At present, the contamination of soil by heavy metals remains a globally concerning environmental issue that needs to [...] Read more.

Soils play a dominant role in supporting the survival and growth of crops and they are also extremely important for human health and food safety. At present, the contamination of soil by heavy metals remains a globally concerning environmental issue that needs to be resolved. In the environment, iron plaque, naturally occurring on the root surface of wetland plants, is found to be equipped with an excellent ability at blocking the migration of heavy metals from soils to plants, which can be further developed as an environmentally friendly strategy for soil remediation to ensure food security. Because of its large surface-to-volume porous structure, iron plaque exhibits high binding affinity to heavy metals. Moreover, iron plaque can be seen as a reservoir to store nutrients to support the growth of plants. In this review, the formation process of iron plaque, the ecological role that iron plaque plays in the environment and the interaction between iron plaque, plants and microbes, are summarized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Effect of Heavy Metals on Plants, 2nd Volume)

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17 pages, 6035 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Organic Materials Promote Rhododendron simsii Growth and Rhizosphere Soil Properties in a Lead–Zinc Mining Wasteland

by Yunchun Chen, Wei Li, Xinchen Cai, Bo Li, Fangdong Zhan, Yanqun Zu and Yongmei He

Plants 2024, 13(6), 891; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060891 - 20 Mar 2024

Viewed by 956

Abstract

The mining of metal minerals generates considerable mining wasteland areas, which are characterized by poor soil properties that hinder plant growth. In this study, a field plot experiment was carried out in the mining wasteland of the Lanping lead–zinc mine in Yunnan Province [...] Read more.

The mining of metal minerals generates considerable mining wasteland areas, which are characterized by poor soil properties that hinder plant growth. In this study, a field plot experiment was carried out in the mining wasteland of the Lanping lead–zinc mine in Yunnan Province to study the effects of applying three organic materials—biochar (B), organic fertilizer (OF), and sludge (S)—at concentrations of 1% (mass fraction), on promoting the soil of mining wasteland and the growth of two plant varieties (Huolieniao and Yingshanhong). The results showed that the amount of available nutrients in the surface soil of a mining wasteland could be considerably increased by S and OF compared to the control check (CK). In the rhizosphere soils of two Rhododendron simsii varieties, the application of S increased the available phosphorus (P) content by 66.4% to 108.8% and the alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen (N) content by 61.7% to 295.5%. However, the contents of available cadmium (Cd) and available lead (Pb) were reduced by 17.1% to 32.0% and 14.8% to 19.0%, respectively. Moreover, three organic materials increased the photosynthetic rate and biomass of two R. simsii varieties. Specifically, OF and S were found to significantly increase the biomass of R. simsii. Organic materials have direct impacts on the increased plant height and biomass of R. simsii. Additionally, organic materials indirectly contribute to the growth of R. simsii by reducing the content of available Cd and available Pb in rhizosphere soil while increasing the content of available nutrients according to the structural equation model (SEM). Overall, S can stabilize Cd and Pb, increase soil nutrient contents, and promote the growth of R. simsii effectively, and has great potential in the vegetation reconstruction of mining wasteland. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Effect of Heavy Metals on Plants, 2nd Volume)

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15 pages, 1805 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Combined Use of Soil Conditioner and Foliar Sulfur Spray Successfully Prevents Dark Pericarp Disease Induced by Manganese Toxicity in Litchi

by Huilin Liu, Cuihua Bai, Yongjun Guo, Zhuo Yang, Xinping Luo, Silin Liu, Yinghui Huang and Lixian Yao

Agronomy 2024, 14(3), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030449 - 24 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1037

Abstract

Manganese toxicity is a major obstacle to agriculture in acid soils. Dark pericarp disease (DPD) is a newly spread physiological disorder induced by excess Mn in litchi, leading to undesirable fruit appearance and substantial economic loss. In this work, broadcast of alkaline soil [...] Read more.

Manganese toxicity is a major obstacle to agriculture in acid soils. Dark pericarp disease (DPD) is a newly spread physiological disorder induced by excess Mn in litchi, leading to undesirable fruit appearance and substantial economic loss. In this work, broadcast of alkaline soil conditioner in winter, followed by foliar sprays of ascorbic acid and sulfur solution at fruit development, was adopted to examine the effect of these combinations on DPD alleviation in a litchi orchard, with DPD morbidities of 70~85% in recent ten years. The combination of soil conditioner broadcast and foliar water spray was used as the control. At harvest, DPD incidence was significantly decreased by sulfur spray (3.3 ± 1.0%) and slightly reduced by ascorbic acid spray (10.7 ± 8.0%) compared to the control (12.9 ± 7.6%). Soil pH and available Mn were significantly increased and reduced by the soil conditioner broadcast. Sulfur spray significantly inhibited Mn uptake but enhanced the accumulation of Mg, Ca, sugars and cyanidin-3-rutinoside in the pericarp, leading to improved fruit pigmentation. Antioxidase activities were regulated to resist Mn stress by sulfur spray. The spray of ascorbic acid could not mitigate DPD as expected, probably due to the dose used. Conclusively, this study provides a practicable approach to mitigate Mn phytoavailability in acid soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Effect of Heavy Metals on Plants, 2nd Volume)

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21 pages, 2960 KiB  

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Multifaceted Role of Jasmonic Acid in Plant Stress Mitigation: An Overview

by Muhammad Rehman, Muhammad Sulaman Saeed, Xingming Fan, Abdul Salam, Raheel Munir, Muhammad Umair Yasin, Ali Raza Khan, Sajid Muhammad, Bahar Ali, Imran Ali, Jamshaid Khan and Yinbo Gan

Plants 2023, 12(23), 3982; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12233982 - 27 Nov 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5028

Abstract

Plants, being sessile, have developed complex signaling and response mechanisms to cope with biotic and abiotic stressors. Recent investigations have revealed the significant contribution of phytohormones in enabling plants to endure unfavorable conditions. Among these phytohormones, jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivatives, collectively [...] Read more.

Plants, being sessile, have developed complex signaling and response mechanisms to cope with biotic and abiotic stressors. Recent investigations have revealed the significant contribution of phytohormones in enabling plants to endure unfavorable conditions. Among these phytohormones, jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivatives, collectively referred to as jasmonates (JAs), are of particular importance and are involved in diverse signal transduction pathways to regulate various physiological and molecular processes in plants, thus protecting plants from the lethal impacts of abiotic and biotic stressors. Jasmonic acid has emerged as a central player in plant defense against biotic stress and in alleviating multiple abiotic stressors in plants, such as drought, salinity, vernalization, and heavy metal exposure. Furthermore, as a growth regulator, JA operates in conjunction with other phytohormones through a complex signaling cascade to balance plant growth and development against stresses. Although studies have reported the intricate nature of JA as a biomolecular entity for the mitigation of abiotic stressors, their underlying mechanism and biosynthetic pathways remain poorly understood. Therefore, this review offers an overview of recent progress made in understanding the biosynthesis of JA, elucidates the complexities of its signal transduction pathways, and emphasizes its pivotal role in mitigating abiotic and biotic stressors. Moreover, we also discuss current issues and future research directions for JAs in plant stress responses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Effect of Heavy Metals on Plants, 2nd Volume)

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