Transgenics in Phytoremediation of Metals and Metalloids: From Laboratory to Field. From Laboratory to Field.

Abstract

Transgenic technologies help to incorporate metal accumulating traits in plants. Accessing genetic loci of metal tolerance is important to develop heavy metal tolerant plants. Single-trait and multitrait genome-wide association analyses are promising for localization of genetic loci of metal tolerance. Information available with quantitative trait locus maps unveils biological base in metal tolerance. A transgenic plant with enhanced metal speciation is a prerequisite to boost phytoremediation. Transgenic strategies for the synthesis of metal chelators such as glutathione, organic acids, polyamines, phytochelatins, and metallothionein will advance metal tolerance in plants. Also, genetic manipulations that incorporate ecophysiological adaptations under varying conditions of soil pH, nutrients, water, and light increase efficiency of phytoremediation. Transgenics is also promising to impart metal tolerance in crop plants such as jatropha, castor, sunflower, and rice. Phytoremediation using transgenic crop plants help to minimize the efforts required for the field establishment of plants, and ensures sustainable environmental cleanup.