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Heavy Metal Stress in Plants: Effects on Nutrients and Water Uptake

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Cellular and Molecular Phytotoxicity of Heavy Metals

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

Abstract

Plants are exposed to several biotic and abiotic stresses which invariably disturb their physiological processes. The contamination of the rhizosphere with heavy metals as a result of increased human activities is one of the leading abiotic constraints which hinder the growth and physiological functions of plants leading to reduced yields. Since water and nutrient uptake by plants play key roles in their physiological activities, imbalance in the uptake could severely interrupt the systematic occurrence of pathways involved in physiology leading to suppressed plant growth. Heavy metals in soils could compete with essential nutrients making their availability scarce for uptake by roots or they may contribute to osmotic stress. In either case, survivability and physiological responses of plants growing in contaminated environment are challenged. This chapter highlights the effects of heavy metal stress on the nutrient and water status of plants and consequent abnormalities associated with such stress.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Saira Siyar & Sajeela Sami

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

    Abdul Majeed

Authors
  1. Saira Siyar
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  2. Sajeela Sami
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  3. Abdul Majeed
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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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Siyar, S., Sami, S., Majeed, A. (2020). Heavy Metal Stress in Plants: Effects on Nutrients and Water Uptake. 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_6

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