Genetics of metal hyperaccumulation in plants

Abstract The recent developments in phytoextraction of metals from soil are an important milestone in the phytoremediation technology. Plants uptake metals from soil and accumulate them, so that the soil is detoxified from the harmful effects of metal pollution. The plants that have the ability to accumulate high concentration of metals in their different parts are called as hyperaccumulators. There are more than 400 plants that are reported to be byperaccumulators. They belong to different genera and grow on variety of soils having metals like rocks and mining and smelting land. As the hyperaccumulators have large variation, it is obvious that the mechanism is regulated by multiple genetic factors. So, it is greatly needed to understand the genetic basis of hyperaccumulation in the plants. In this chapter the genetic basis of hyperaccumulation will be discussed. The genetic variation among the hyperaccumulators, the pattern of genetic variation, the extent of metal tolerance, and other related topics will also be the part of this chapter.