Pb uptake, accumulation, and translocation in plants: Plant physiological, biochemical, and molecular response: A review
Shafeeq Ur Rahman,
Anzhen Qin,
Muhammad Zain,
Zain Mushtaq,
Faisal Mehmood,
Luqman Riaz,
Sadiq Naveed,
Mohammad Javed Ansari,
Mohd Saeed,
Irfan Ahmad,
Muhammad Shehzad
Affiliations
Shafeeq Ur Rahman
Water Science and Environmental Engineering Research Center, College of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
Anzhen Qin
Institute of Farmland Irrigation, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Xinxiang, 453002, China; Corresponding author.
Muhammad Zain
Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, Key Laboratory of Crop Cultivation and Physiology of Jiangsu Province, College of Agriculture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
Zain Mushtaq
Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Faisal Mehmood
Department of Land and Water Management, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Pakistan
Luqman Riaz
Department of Environmental Sciences, Kohsar University Murree, 47150, Punjab, Pakistan
Sadiq Naveed
Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China
Mohammad Javed Ansari
Department of Botany, Hindu College Moradabad (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University Bareilly), 244001, India
Mohd Saeed
Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, Hail, P.O. Box 2240, Saudi Arabia
Irfan Ahmad
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
Muhammad Shehzad
State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, Henan, China; Corresponding author.
Lead (Pb) is a highly toxic contaminant that is ubiquitously present in the ecosystem and poses severe environmental issues, including hazards to soil-plant systems. This review focuses on the uptake, accumulation, and translocation of Pb metallic ions and their toxicological effects on plant morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes. We highlight that the uptake of Pb metal is controlled by cation exchange capacity, pH, size of soil particles, root nature, and other physio-chemical limitations. Pb toxicity obstructs seed germination, root/shoot length, plant growth, and final crop-yield. Pb disrupts the nutrient uptake through roots, alters plasma membrane permeability, and disturbs chloroplast ultrastructure that triggers changes in respiration as well as transpiration activities, creates the reactive oxygen species (ROS), and activates some enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Pb also impairs photosynthesis, disrupts water balance and mineral nutrients, changes hormonal status, and alters membrane structure and permeability. This review provides consolidated information concentrating on the current studies associated with Pb-induced oxidative stress and toxic conditions in various plants, highlighting the roles of different antioxidants in plants mitigating Pb-stress. Additionally, we discussed detoxification and tolerance responses in plants by regulating different gene expressions, protein, and glutathione metabolisms to resist Pb-induced phytotoxicity. Overall, various approaches to tackle Pb toxicity have been addressed; the phytoremediation techniques and biochar amendments are economical and eco-friendly remedies for improving Pb-contaminated soils.
