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Effect of Heavy Metal Stress on Growth and Yields of Crop Plants: An Overview

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Cellular and Molecular Phytotoxicity of Heavy Metals

Part of the book series: Nanotechnology in the Life Sciences ((NALIS))

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Abstract

Metals which have relatively higher densities and exhibit toxic effects are generally termed as heavy metals. Metalloids which possess characters similar to heavy metals may often fall in the definition of heavy metals. Soils contaminated with heavy metals are inappropriate for the growth of general plants since most of the plant species are sensitive to the toxic effects of heavy metals. Specifically, cultivation of crop plants—which serve as leading sources of human and animal food—on metal-contaminated soils comprehends significant concerns about their safe use in the food chain. Crop plants may exhibit differential tolerance level to heavy metals and nearly all of their growth and physiological and biochemical activities may exhibit abnormalities leading to their reduced growth and yield outputs. In this chapter, we present an updated review about the effect of heavy metals on growth, physiology, and yields of important crop plants. Potential remediating approaches for addressing the metal-contaminated soils are also briefly discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

    Zahir Muhammad,  Rehmanullah & Naila Inayat

  2. Department of Botany, Government Degree College Pabbi (Nowshera), Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

    Abdul Majeed

  3. Department of Botany, Qurtuba University of Science and Technology Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

    Saira Siyar

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  1. Zahir Muhammad
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  2. Abdul Majeed
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  3. Rehmanullah
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  4. Naila Inayat
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  5. Saira Siyar
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Mohammad Faisal

  2. Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Quaiser Saquib

  3. Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Abdulrahman A. Alatar

  4. Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Abdulaziz A. Al-Khedhairy

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Muhammad, Z., Majeed, A., Rehmanullah, Inayat, N., Siyar, S. (2020). Effect of Heavy Metal Stress on Growth and Yields of Crop Plants: An Overview. In: Faisal, M., Saquib, Q., Alatar, A.A., Al-Khedhairy, A.A. (eds) Cellular and Molecular Phytotoxicity of Heavy Metals. Nanotechnology in the Life Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45975-8_4

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