Essentiality of Zinc for Human Health and Sustainable Development

Zinc Hyperaccumulation in Plants: A Review

“…Natural phenomena, such as volcanic eruptions, also contribute to the continuous cycling of Zn. Natural emissions of Zn are estimated to reach 5.9 million tons each year [13].…”

“…Excess Zn may alter plant development [11,12]. However, some plants have developed the ability to grow in environments with high Zn concentrations where sensitive ones cannot [13]. Some of these plants, known as hyperaccumulators, have the ability to accumulate high amounts of Zn in their aerial parts [11][12][13].…”

“…However, some plants have developed the ability to grow in environments with high Zn concentrations where sensitive ones cannot [13]. Some of these plants, known as hyperaccumulators, have the ability to accumulate high amounts of Zn in their aerial parts [11][12][13]. To understand Zn hyperaccumulation mechanisms, at physiological, biochemical, and molecular level, scientists have firstly identified model plants as Zn hyperaccumulators [14,15].…”

Expression of the P1B‐type ATPase AtHMA4 in tobacco modifies Zn and Cd root to shoot partitioning and metal tolerancea

“…Once taken up by the roots, zinc is transported to the shoots via the xylem and root to shoot translocation of zinc is under strict control. The pattern of zinc root ⁄ shoot partitioning is species specific and depends also on the developmental stage and on the metal concentration in a medium (Marschner, 1995;Hanikenne et al, 2008;Prasad, 2008). The regulation of zinc translocation (and other transition metals) to the aerial plant parts is poorly understood, but recently HMA4 from A. thaliana and A. halleri has been shown to be important in the control of root-to-shoot Zn translocation and xylem loading (Hussain et al, 2004;Verret et al, 2004;Hanikenne et al, 2008).…”