Perspective of biotechnological mechanisms of metalloid detoxification in plants

Abstract

Metalloids pose toxicity to the plants as they have become a significant part of the soil-water system, and upon their entry into the plant system, they lead to malfunctioning of the metabolic processes, thereby affecting the agricultural production. Therefore, in order to protect the plants from noxious impacts of metalloids and maintain normal functioning of the metabolic processes, it is imperative for the plants to initiate detoxification responses. Biotechnological tools, which include gene manipulations, hold a significant contribution in strengthening the plants efficient detoxification strategies. The first target of the biotechnological aspect is to directly manipulate the transporter genes, which mark the entry of metalloids in the root or shoot system. This helps in either restricting the metalloid entry due to downregulation of the transporter gene or effective sequestration of the metalloids in the root system, which does not allow their entry into the shoot system, thereby protecting plants and their economical parts. Furthermore, the biotechnological tools have enabled increased production of the ligands through manipulation of genes involved in metallothioneins, phytochelatins, and glutathione complexes, which help in effective binding of the metalloids and aid in their sequestration. Furthermore, the metalloids can be converted into their volatile forms or nontoxic forms, which do not harm the plant body, and released outside the plant body or sequestered inside compartments of the cell. This chapter will discuss all the aforementioned processes in detail, unraveling the role of biotechnology in assisting effective detoxification of metalloids. Biotechnological tools have enabled the efficient detoxification of metalloids, which is not only essential for the plants as it protects plants from the toxicity of metalloids but also for the environment as it aids in an efficient phytoremediation strategy, assisting in reducing environmental contamination