Table 14.1 Adverse effects of pollutants on plants
S. no. Heavy metal
Heavy metal toxicity in plants
Reference
1
Zinc
Causes chlorosis, accumulation of other
heavy metals like manganese (Mn) and
copper (Cu) in roots and shoots, chromosomal aberrations and affects chlorophyll fluorescence
Nagajyoti et al. (2010)
Huang et al. (2019)
Chen et al. (2017)
Yamaguchi et al. (2012)
2
Cadmium
Causes retarded growth of plants, chlorosis in leaves
Nagajyoti et al. (2010)
Kaya et al. (2020)
3
Copper
Causes chlorosis and inhibited growth
retardation in the growth of the roots
Jisha et al. (2017)
4
Mercury
Affects mitochondrial and chloroplast
activities, causes chlorosis and necrosis
in dose-dependent manner
Nagajyoti et al. (2010)
Azevedo and Rodriguez
(2012)
5
Chromium
Causes various phytotoxic effects in
plants like chlorosis, growth retardation, alteration in the synthesis of
essential pigments; inhibits the cell
division and elongation of plant roots,
thus shortening the overall length of
roots
Ozturk et al. (2012)
Boonyapookana et al.
(2002)
Chen et al. (2017)
6
Nickel
Causes necrosis and chlorosis, disturbs
the functions of cell membrane, and
disrupts water balance which led to poor
nodulation and resulted in reduced yield
Yadav (2010)
Turan et al. (2018)
7
Lead
Causes retardation and inhibition in
germination
Affects the Calvin cycle, and electron
transport chain is also disturbed and
causes carbon dioxide shortage by
closing stomata pores and affects chlorophyll florescence
Sharma and Dubey (2005)
Chen et al. (2017)
Huang et al. (2019)
8
Aluminum
Inhibits root growth, influences reactive
oxygen species (ROS) generation,
causes signal transduction disorder, and
lowers cell wall extensibility, thereby
impairing plant growth
Von Uexküll and Mutert
(1995)
Guo et al. (2017)
Dai et al. (2013)
Liu et al. (2014)
9
Manganese
Generates oxidative stress, inhibiting
the activities of several key enzymes
and disturbing the absorption and
translocation of other mineral elements,
impairing leaf structure and chlorophyll
biosynthesis, impeding photosynthesis
and respiration
González et al. (1998)
Führs et al. (2011)
Millaleo et al. (2012)
Shi and Zhu (2008)
10
Selenium
Decreases glutathione level and
increases the lipid peroxidation in wheat
seedlings
Hugouvieux et al. (2009)
Łabanowska et al. (2012)
11
Organochlorine
pesticides
Cause carbon and nitrogen imbalance
and increase in oxidized fatty acids
Blondel et al. (2016)
(continued)
230
P. Sharma et al.
S. no. Heavy metal
Heavy metal toxicity in plants
Reference
1
Zinc
Causes chlorosis, accumulation of other
heavy metals like manganese (Mn) and
copper (Cu) in roots and shoots, chromosomal aberrations and affects chlorophyll fluorescence
Nagajyoti et al. (2010)
Huang et al. (2019)
Chen et al. (2017)
Yamaguchi et al. (2012)
2
Cadmium
Causes retarded growth of plants, chlorosis in leaves
Nagajyoti et al. (2010)
Kaya et al. (2020)
3
Copper
Causes chlorosis and inhibited growth
retardation in the growth of the roots
Jisha et al. (2017)
4
Mercury
Affects mitochondrial and chloroplast
activities, causes chlorosis and necrosis
in dose-dependent manner
Nagajyoti et al. (2010)
Azevedo and Rodriguez
(2012)
5
Chromium
Causes various phytotoxic effects in
plants like chlorosis, growth retardation, alteration in the synthesis of
essential pigments; inhibits the cell
division and elongation of plant roots,
thus shortening the overall length of
roots
Ozturk et al. (2012)
Boonyapookana et al.
(2002)
Chen et al. (2017)
6
Nickel
Causes necrosis and chlorosis, disturbs
the functions of cell membrane, and
disrupts water balance which led to poor
nodulation and resulted in reduced yield
Yadav (2010)
Turan et al. (2018)
7
Lead
Causes retardation and inhibition in
germination
Affects the Calvin cycle, and electron
transport chain is also disturbed and
causes carbon dioxide shortage by
closing stomata pores and affects chlorophyll florescence
Sharma and Dubey (2005)
Chen et al. (2017)
Huang et al. (2019)
8
Aluminum
Inhibits root growth, influences reactive
oxygen species (ROS) generation,
causes signal transduction disorder, and
lowers cell wall extensibility, thereby
impairing plant growth
Von Uexküll and Mutert
(1995)
Guo et al. (2017)
Dai et al. (2013)
Liu et al. (2014)
9
Manganese
Generates oxidative stress, inhibiting
the activities of several key enzymes
and disturbing the absorption and
translocation of other mineral elements,
impairing leaf structure and chlorophyll
biosynthesis, impeding photosynthesis
and respiration
González et al. (1998)
Führs et al. (2011)
Millaleo et al. (2012)
Shi and Zhu (2008)
10
Selenium
Decreases glutathione level and
increases the lipid peroxidation in wheat
seedlings
Hugouvieux et al. (2009)
Łabanowska et al. (2012)
11
Organochlorine
pesticides
Cause carbon and nitrogen imbalance
and increase in oxidized fatty acids
Blondel et al. (2016)
(continued)
230
P. Sharma et al.