Molecular and Biotechnological Approaches to Heavy Metal Stress Tolerance in Plants

Heavy metal and metalloid contamination is an increasing threat to plant growth, crop productivity, food quality, and environmental health. Elements such as cadmium, lead, arsenic, chromium, mercury, and excess nickel can disturb nutrient balance, photosynthesis, redox homeostasis, cellular metabolism, and plant development. Although considerable progress has been made in understanding plant responses to metal stress, important questions remain about how plants sense, signal, and coordinate tolerance at the molecular and cellular levels. Moreover, translating these findings into effective and sustainable biotechnological strategies remains a major challenge. This Research Topic aims to bring together recent advances in the molecular understanding and biotechnological management of heavy metal stress in plants. We particularly seek studies that clarify the regulatory networks underlying metal perception, transport, sequestration, detoxification, oxidative stress management, and stress signaling. Contributions addressing how genes, transcription factors, phytohormones, epigenetic mechanisms, metabolites, and plant–microbe interactions contribute to metal tolerance are especially encouraged. The collection will also highlight how molecular discoveries can be translated into strategies for developing metal-tolerant crops and improving phytoremediation. We welcome Original Research, Review, and Mini Review articles addressing molecular and biotechnological aspects of heavy metal stress tolerance in plants. Topics of interest include genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and multi-omics; CRISPR/Cas and genome editing; molecular breeding; epigenetic regulation; metal transporters, chelation and sequestration; antioxidant and signaling pathways; phytohormone-mediated responses; plant–microbe interactions and beneficial microorganisms; nanoparticles and nano-enabled approaches; phytoremediation and phytomining; and biotechnology-based strategies for developing metal-tolerant crops and reducing metal accumulation in edible tissues. Studies linking molecular mechanisms with physiological, biochemical, phenotypic, or field-level responses are particularly encouraged. Topic editors: Azamal Husen, Noureddine Chaachouay, Anabela Romano Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86012/molecular-and-biotechnological-approaches-to-heavy-metal-stress-tolerance-in-plants