Phytoremedial potential and heavy metal transport proteins in Ricinus Communis L. and Solanum Lycopersicum L. Chaturvedi Ritu, Varun Mayank1, D'Souza Rohan1, Favas Paulo2, Paul Manoj S.1 1Department of Botany, St. John's College, Agra, India-282 002, India 2School of Life Sciences and the Environment, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal Online published on 28 June, 2017. Abstract In order to survive under metal stress condition, plants have developed adaptations including alteration in gene expression of metal transporters that are responsible for uptake, efflux, translocation, and sequestration of metal ions. As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn levels were assessed in Ricinus communis and Solanum lycopersicum, members of Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae respectively, at some industrial sites in Agra city. The range of these metals was also worked out keeping in view their level at different sites. Both plants accumulated good amount of metals with Ricinus communis proving to be a phytoextractor for Cu and Mn; and Solanum lycopersicum for As, Cr, Mn, Pb and Zn. The aim of this study is to interpret the genes conferring uptake, translocation and sequestration of heavy metals in the test plants. Their genomes were sequenced in 2010 and 2012, respectively. It is noteworthy that genes leading to heavy metal tolerance have remained conserved in these plants. The genes responsible for heavy metal transport in Arabidopsis thaliana and Arabidopsis halleri have already been characterized. It can be interpreted that the homologs of metal transporters present in these plants and their regulation are responsible for their field potential. Top Keywords Inventory, metal transporters, phytoextractor, phytostabilizer. Top |