Special Issue on “Metallophytes for soil remediation” - Preface

Abstract

Background This collection of papers submitted to this Special Issue is mainly an outgrowth from the Symposium C3.5.2. 21WCSS ''Native metallophytes from mine spoils as a potential source for phytoremediation'' held in Rio, August 2018. The ensemble of papers of this Special Issue aims to offer the most recent findings, and state-of-the-art development in phytoremediation technologies using native metallophytes species. It implies a thorough identification of metallophytes colonizing contaminated sites and research in situ and laboratory experiments on the physiological behaviour of these species to cope with high concentrations of metals (loids) in mining, industrial and urban soils. The knowledge of plant physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, ecology, proteomics and genomics will also be essential for understanding the fundaments of plant tolerance.

Heavy Metals, Their Phytotoxicity, and the Role of Phenolic Antioxidants in Plant Stress Responses with Focus on Cadmium: Review

“…The discovery of hyperaccumulator plant species, capable of absorbing 50 to 500 times higher concentrations of HMs compared to other plants, spurred the development of phytoextraction technology [30]. There are presently about 400 known hyperaccumulator species (0.2% of all angiosperms), mostly from the families Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Caryo phyllaceae, Cyperaceae, Cunoniaceae, Fabaceae, Flacourtiaceae, Lamiaceae, Poaceae, Violaceae, and Euphorbiaceae [31,32]. Due to the mentioned properties, these species are increasingly used for bioremediation of contaminated areas.…”