Author(s):

Suraj Varma, Ekta and Manish Jangra

Abstract: Soil pollution by heavy metals is the most important problem nowadays because toxic contaminants like As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn etc. are released in the natural ecosystem due to anthropogenic activities like advancements in agriculture, industrialization and urbanization process. It has become a serious problem worldwide because heavy metals are noxious, persistent and non-biodegradable which adversely affect crop yields, soil biomass and soil fertility. Although some of these metals are essential micronutrients responsible for many regular processes in plants, their excess, however, can have detrimental effects and can directly influence the plant growth, metabolism, physiology and senescence. This study discusses the toxic effects caused by various metals and also overview the plants defense strategies to combat the heavy metal stress.

Pages: 608-614  |  2832 Views  1565 Downloads

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