Narrow Results

Lithium (Li) is considered an emerging metal contaminant in the environment. To better prepare for the challenges to crop productivity from Li pollution, it is necessary to have a better understanding of the physiological basis/mechanisms of the responses of plants to Li stress. The overview presented here of the toxic effects of Li shows that different plants may exhibit variations in the relationship between Li bioaccumulation and the severity of growth inhibition and reduction in the contents of the different photosynthetic pigments. To deepen our understanding of how different plants respond to Li exposure, many studies have focussed on the increase in oxidative stress, which could cause damage to biomolecules, such as membrane lipids and proteins. These damages could be translated into growth inhibition effects and the loss of photosynthetic pigments. In addition, since various mineral nutrients, such as K, Ca and Mg, play vital roles in various metabolic reactions and pathways, alterations in mineral contents in plants exposed to Li could result in metabolic reprogramming leading to growth alterations. It is proposed here that gene expression changes, particularly those involved in plant hormone metabolism and transport as well as autophagy, could also underlie the physiological responses of plants to Li stress.

Lithium (Li) and nickel (Ni) are two of the most widely used metals in various industrial applications. Since they are available for plants’ uptake from the soil, excessive plant exposure to high doses of both metals may be tolerable or not for accumulating species and sensitive species, respectively. Many plants adopt a number of powerful detoxification techniques in their fight for survival. Among them, the antioxidant defence system is a crucial mechanism that helps plants cope with toxic metals, including Li and Ni. Understanding the different approaches that plants use to activate this system can provide insights into how we can improve plant resilience and protect them from environmental stressors. Besides the natural endogenously reacting antioxidant system in the plant’s own body, exogenously applied antioxidants have proven to be effective in mitigating the negative effects of the aforementioned metals. Herein, we review the traditional as well as recent advances used in overcoming the toxicity of Li and Ni to plants.