Сельскохозяйственная биология, 2011, № 3, с. 10-15.

УДК 631.46:579.64:581.138.1:581.133.9:57.044

MICROBIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF RESISTANCE AND ACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS BY PLANTS

A.A. Belimov, I.A. Tikhonovich

Plants and microorganisms form symbioses, which are complex biological systems having specific mechanisms of adaptation to the environment based on interactions between symbionts. Many of symbiotrophic microorganisms, such as mycorrhizal fungi, nodule and associative bacteria, possess high tolerance to heavy metals and take part in processes of metal transformation in the rhizosphere and accumulation by plants. However, mechanisms of adaptation of symbioses to toxic metal concentrations and integration between components of plant-microbe systems under stress are scarcely understood. The role of partners in maintenance of the symbiosis homeostasis under stressful conditions caused by heavy metals and possibilities for the use of plant-microbe interactions for cultivation of agricultural crops and phytoremediation of polluted soils are discussed.

Keywords: plant-microbe interactions, stress, heavy metals.