An Integrated Transcriptomic, Proteomic, and Metabolomic Approach to Unravel the Molecular Mechanisms of Metal Stress Tolerance in Plants

Industrialization coupled with modern agricultural practices is resulting in heavy metal contamination of both our terrestrial and aquatic systems very rapidly. Metal stress induces a number of morphological, physiological, and genetic defects and thus limits plant growth and productivity. Further, metal stress causes nutritional and water stresses besides oxidative damage in plants. But, plants have evolved diverse intricate mechanisms in order to cope with heavy metal toxicities. Undoubtedly, phytochelatins, metallothione in proteins, and several transcription factors play pivotal roles during metal detoxification and in plant survival under such metal toxicities. Recent advances in transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches have facilitated us to dissect out the complex mechanisms of metal accumulation/tolerance in different plants and their effective management. This book chapter summarizes transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic changes associated with metal stress and how such an understanding can help in generating crop plants that are resilient to metal stress.