Metal tolerance in plants: Molecular and physicochemical interface determines the not so heavy effect of heavy metals

An increase in technological interventions and ruthless urbanization in the name of development has deteriorated our environment over time and caused the buildup of heavy metals (HMs) in the soil and water resources. These heavy metals are gaining increased access into our food chain through the plant and/or animal-based products, to adversely impact human health. The issue of how to restrict the entry of HMs or modulate their response in event of their ingress into the plant system is worrisome. The current knowledge on the interactiveregulatory role and contribution of different physical, biophysical, biochemical, physiological, and molecular factors that determine the heavy metal availability-uptake-partitioning dynamics in the soil-plant-environment needs to be updated. The present review critically analyses the interactive overlaps between different adaptation and tolerance strategies that may be causally related to their cellular localization, conjugation and homeostasis, a relative affinity for the transporters, rhizosphere modifications, activation of efflux pumps and

Automated summary

The increase in technological interventions and urbanization has led to the accumulation of heavy metals in the environment, posing a threat to human health through their entry into the food chain. The issue of restricting heavy metal entry into plant systems and modulating their response is a cause for concern that requires updated knowledge on the regulatory factors involved.