Functional biology of halophytes in the phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils

摘要: Halophytic plants are characterized by their ability to survive, even thrive, at concentrations of sodium and chloride ions that would be toxic most crop species. Given the diminishing prospects for availability fresh water agriculture, halophytes represent an important resource both our understanding fundamental physiological mechanisms in salt stress adaptation utilization saline waters agriculture. Mechanisms allow survive high may not exclusive confer tolerance other ions, including loosely defined family heavy metals. It has been recently shown a number these do indeed have accumulate metals or tolerate levels environment. These abilities make some excellent candidates phytoextraction phytostabilization contaminated soils. This review addresses general deleterious effects plants, present known metal discusses potential phytoremediation Considering multifaceted biomass production marginal and/or extreme environments, role broader context agriculture food security should further explored.