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Biotechnological Strategies for Enhancing Phytoremediation

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Biotechnology of Crucifers

Abstract

Phytoremediation to clean up soil or sediments contaminated with metals and other pollutant compound has gained increasing attention as environmental friendly and cost effective. Achievements of the last decade suggest that genetic engineering of plants can be instrumental in improving phytoremediation. Members of the Cruciferae plant family have a key role in phytoremediation technology. Many wild crucifer species are known to hyperaccumulate heavy metals and possess genes for resistance or tolerance to the toxic effects of a wide range of metals. Many of these species are well adapted to a range of environmental conditions. Some species are tolerant to high levels of heavy metals, and there is the potential to select superior genotypes for phytoremediation. They are well suited to genetic manipulation and in vitro culture techniques and are attractive candidates for the introduction of genes aimed at phytoremediation. The use of genetic engineering to modify plants for metal uptake, transport and sequestration may open up new avenues for enhancing efficiency of phytoremediation. Metal chelator, metallothionein, phytochelatin and metal transporter genes have been transferred to plants for improved metal uptake and sequestration in crucifers. The purpose of this article is to review different biotechnological approaches to enhance phytoremediation in crucifers.

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  1. School of Environment and Sustainable Development, Central University of Gujarat, Sector 30, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382030, India

    Bhawana Pathak Ph.D., Razia Khan M.Phil., Jyoti Fulekar M.Phil. & M. H. Fulekar Ph.D.

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  1. Bhawana Pathak Ph.D.
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  2. Razia Khan M.Phil.
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  3. Jyoti Fulekar M.Phil.
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  1. Science and Technology, Division of Plant Breeding and Genetics, S.K. University of Agricultural, Chatha, 180 003, India

    Surinder Kumar Gupta

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Pathak, B., Khan, R., Fulekar, J., Fulekar, M.H. (2013). Biotechnological Strategies for Enhancing Phytoremediation. In: Gupta, S. (eds) Biotechnology of Crucifers. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7795-2_5

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