Some aspects of interactions between heavy metals and plant mineral nutrients

Abstract

Heavy metals are aggresive environmental pollutants. They are easily taken up by plants and they are strong stess factors for plant metabolism. Heavy metals influence includes also disturbances in plant mineral nutrition by competition with other nutrients. Typical symptoms of heavy metals toxicity are often similar or even the same like symptoms of some essential nutrients deficiency. The aim of this paper is to discuss mechanisms of some heavy metals uptake and possible ways of their influence on some basic and trace nutrients availability for plants. Attention is also paid to regulatory relationships among groups of heavy metals themselves. Moreover, possibilities and limitations in revitalization of heavy metal-treated plants by micro-, and macronutrient supply are discussed.