Horticultural Studies (HortiS) 2006, Vol 23, Num, 2     (Pages: 36-45)

THE EFFECT OF HEAVY METAL TOXICITY ON PLANT METABOLISM

Filiz ÖKTÜREN ASRİ 1 ,Sahriye SÖNMEZ 1

1 Akdeniz Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Toprak Bölümü, Antalya Viewed : 1560 - Downloaded : 1200 Heavy metal pollution of soils is one of the most important environmental problem. Heavy metal accumulation in soils has an important influence not only on the fertility of soils and functions of ecosystem but also on the health of animals and human beings via food chains. Heavy metals in plant structure causes important decreases in crop quality and yield due to inhibition of plant physiological activity, decrease of fertility and die. Tolerance of plant to heavy metal toxicity depends on plant variety, element type, time of stress, plant tissue and organ. Therefore, knowing heavy metal type and quantity, availability, damage strength and type, and as well as damage formation process is important for plant growth and development. Keywords : Heavy metal, toxicity, stress, plant metabolism