Metals and Metalloids in Plant Signaling

The impact of metals/metalloids on plant water relations has to be distinguished from their effects on water availability in soils, on root growth, limiting water uptake, as well as other phytotoxic effects. If soils are high in soluble salts (including heavy metal salts), the osmotic potential in the soil solution might be lower than the potential of the cell sap in root. Under these circumstances, the soil solution would severely restrict the rate of water uptake by plants and lead to osmotic stress. Further, the negative influence metals/metalloids have on the growth and activities of soil microorganisms, may also indirectly affect the growth of plants.

In the book “Metals and Metalloids in Plant Signaling”, we elucidated the effects of metals/metalloids on signaling and communication cascades in plants. The general aim of the present book is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current situation and development in the field and to develop a science-based theoretical foundation for the conceptualization, and practical application. The various chapters are based on the consideration of metals/metalloids in terms of their action on different regulatory and functional systems of plants (signaling, metabolism, uptake, and transport mechanisms, etc.).