Zinc in plants.
Zinc (Zn) is an essential component of thousands of proteins in plants, although it is toxic in excess. In this review, the dominant fluxes of Zn in the soil-root-shoot continuum are described, including Zn inputs to soils, the plant availability of soluble Zn(2+) at the root surface, and plant uptake and accumulation of Zn. Knowledge of these fluxes can inform agronomic and genetic strategies to address the widespread problem of Zn-limited crop growth. Substantial within-species genetic variation in Zn composition is being used to alleviate human dietary Zn deficiencies through biofortification. Intriguingly, a meta-analysis of data from an extensive literature survey indicates that a small proportion of the genetic variation in shoot Zn concentration can be attributed to evolutionary processes whose effects manifest above the family level. Remarkable insights into the evolutionary potential of plants to respond to elevated soil Zn have recently been made through detailed anatomical, physiological, chemical, genetic and molecular characterizations of the brassicaceous Zn hyperaccumulators Thlaspi caerulescens and Arabidopsis halleri.
Broadley
Martin R
MR
Plant Sciences Division, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK.
White
Philip J
PJ
The Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK.
Hammond
John P
JP
Warwick HRI, University of Warwick, Wellesbourne, Warwick CV35 9EF, UK.
Zelko
Ivan
I
Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK 84538 Bratislava, Slovakia.|Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina B2, SK 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia.
Lux
Alexander
A
Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK 84538 Bratislava, Slovakia.|Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina B2, SK 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia.
D005075:Biological Evolution; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity
D012987:Soil; D015032:Zinc