Stress Biology - Call for Papers --- Special Issue "Chemical and biotechnological interventions for metal(loid) stress mitigation in plants"

Metal(loid)s are ubiquitously present in variable concentrations in soil, water and air. While essential metals like zinc, copper are the source of life on earth, toxic metal(loid)s do not perform any biological function in plants and therefore pose toxicity to them upon entry. Metal(loid) accumulations cause catastrophic changes in physiological, metabolic and molecular functions of plants. The notable examples of metal(loid)s include cadmium, arsenic, lead and mercury. The presence of metal(loid)s in higher than maximum permissible levels in soil and water has been increasing over the years with the expansion of anthropogenic and agricultural activities. The accumulation of metal(loid)s in edible parts of plants also threatens health of humans.

A number of chemical regulators have been studied over the years and encouraging results have been obtained in terms of stress mitigation in metal(loid) exposed plants. The chemical regulators include phytohormones like salicyclic acid, melatonin, redox-active chemical like thiourea, and others like chitosan etc. In addition, significant progress in knowledge about metal(loid) induced tolerance mechanisms in plants up to gene and protein level has paved way for biotechnological approaches for stress mitigation. To successfully utilize chemical regulators, holistic in depth research about their effects and mechanisms of action at physiological and molecular levels is necessary. There is possibility of integrating one or more chemical regulators or chemical regulator and biotechnological approach in future to achieve even better results and this would require lab-to-field level extensive research.

This special issue aims to publish high quality articles pertaining to amelioration of metal(loid) stress in plants, using chemical regulators or biotechnological approaches. Articles may include reviews, original research articles and short communications. Publication fee will be waived for all accepted articles. The journal follows the peer review policy (this opens in a new tab) of Stress Biology for all the special issue submissions.

Guest Editor:

Dr. Sudhakar Srivastava (sudhakar.iesd@bhu.ac.in (this opens in a new tab))

Assistant Professor, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi – 221005, India

Co-Guest Editor:

Dr. R.D. Tripathi (tripathird@gmail.com (this opens in a new tab))

NASI Senior Scientist & Emeritus Professor (AcSIR)

CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow-226 001 (UP), India

Submission deadline: 31 July 2024