Page 1
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 1
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “National Mission
on Education Through ICT”
Discipline: Botany
Paper: Plant Biotechnology
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla
Lesson: Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Lesson Developer: Dr Meenakshi Vachher,
Assistant Professor,Department of Biochemistry, Institute of
Home Economics,University of Delhi
Lesson Reviewer: Dr Parul Agarwal, Department of Genetics,
University of Delhi South Campus
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of
Delhi, South Campus
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL
Page 2
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 1
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “National Mission
on Education Through ICT”
Discipline: Botany
Paper: Plant Biotechnology
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla
Lesson: Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Lesson Developer: Dr Meenakshi Vachher,
Assistant Professor,Department of Biochemistry, Institute of
Home Economics,University of Delhi
Lesson Reviewer: Dr Parul Agarwal, Department of Genetics,
University of Delhi South Campus
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of
Delhi, South Campus
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 2
Table of Contents
Chapter: Role of Plant Biotechnology in environment
? Introduction
? Phytoremediation
? Phytoextraction
? Phytotransformation
? Phytostablization
? Rhizodegradation
? Phytovolatilization
? Rhizofiltration
? Transgenics and phytoremediation
? Phytoremediation of heavy metals
? Mercury
? Selenium
? Arsenic
? Phytoremediation of herbicides, explosives and organic
compounds
? Plant associated microbes
? Ozone tolerant plants
? Plant diagnosis
? Biofuels and biotechnology
? Insecticide and herbicide resistant plants
? Bioplastics
? Summary
? Exercise/ Practice
? Glossary
? References/ Bibliography/ Further Reading
Page 3
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 1
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “National Mission
on Education Through ICT”
Discipline: Botany
Paper: Plant Biotechnology
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla
Lesson: Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Lesson Developer: Dr Meenakshi Vachher,
Assistant Professor,Department of Biochemistry, Institute of
Home Economics,University of Delhi
Lesson Reviewer: Dr Parul Agarwal, Department of Genetics,
University of Delhi South Campus
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of
Delhi, South Campus
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 2
Table of Contents
Chapter: Role of Plant Biotechnology in environment
? Introduction
? Phytoremediation
? Phytoextraction
? Phytotransformation
? Phytostablization
? Rhizodegradation
? Phytovolatilization
? Rhizofiltration
? Transgenics and phytoremediation
? Phytoremediation of heavy metals
? Mercury
? Selenium
? Arsenic
? Phytoremediation of herbicides, explosives and organic
compounds
? Plant associated microbes
? Ozone tolerant plants
? Plant diagnosis
? Biofuels and biotechnology
? Insecticide and herbicide resistant plants
? Bioplastics
? Summary
? Exercise/ Practice
? Glossary
? References/ Bibliography/ Further Reading
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 3
Introduction
Plants are indispensable to our life as they provide us food, oxygen and also help in
preserving the environment. The major applications of using plant biotechnology to
improve our environment include:
? Use of plants to remove toxic chemicals by phytoremediation
? Use of plant biotechnology to remove aluminium toxicity from the soil. The
scientists have introduced a citric acid producing gene in bacteria which reacts
with aluminium and prevents its escape into the roots
? Production of bioplastics
? Produce crops resistant to insecticides and pesticides
We will be dealing with these applications in detail in this chapter.
Phytoremediation
Phytoremediation (Phyto-plant and Remedium-restoring balance) is the use of plants
to clean up the environment. In this process plants are utilized to remove, destroy or
sequester hazardous chemicals from the environment. It has numerous advantages
over traditional methods of waste management. It is a very cost effective method, has
aesthetic advantages and has long term applicability. The plants can be monitored
easily and there is a possibility of recovery and re-utilization of valuable metals
(phytomining). It appears to be a potentially less harmful method of remediation as it
preserves the environment in a natural state and uses natural organisms.
Bioremediation or use of living organisms for environment clean up, is now being
stated as to be among “the top ten technologies for the improvement of human health
in developing countries” (Daar et al., 2002). Limitations of phytoremediation include
the potential of introduction of contaminant or its metabolite into the food chain
leading to bioaccumulation of contaminants. Also it is limited to the surface area and
depth occupied by the roots. Sometimes slow growth and low biomass needs long term
dedication. Contaminants can leach out into groundwater. Toxicity might also be
encountered in establishment and maintenance of plants at waste sites. Long clean up
times are required to achieve regulatory action levels.
There are various types of phytoremediation processes:
Page 4
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 1
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “National Mission
on Education Through ICT”
Discipline: Botany
Paper: Plant Biotechnology
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla
Lesson: Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Lesson Developer: Dr Meenakshi Vachher,
Assistant Professor,Department of Biochemistry, Institute of
Home Economics,University of Delhi
Lesson Reviewer: Dr Parul Agarwal, Department of Genetics,
University of Delhi South Campus
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of
Delhi, South Campus
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 2
Table of Contents
Chapter: Role of Plant Biotechnology in environment
? Introduction
? Phytoremediation
? Phytoextraction
? Phytotransformation
? Phytostablization
? Rhizodegradation
? Phytovolatilization
? Rhizofiltration
? Transgenics and phytoremediation
? Phytoremediation of heavy metals
? Mercury
? Selenium
? Arsenic
? Phytoremediation of herbicides, explosives and organic
compounds
? Plant associated microbes
? Ozone tolerant plants
? Plant diagnosis
? Biofuels and biotechnology
? Insecticide and herbicide resistant plants
? Bioplastics
? Summary
? Exercise/ Practice
? Glossary
? References/ Bibliography/ Further Reading
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 3
Introduction
Plants are indispensable to our life as they provide us food, oxygen and also help in
preserving the environment. The major applications of using plant biotechnology to
improve our environment include:
? Use of plants to remove toxic chemicals by phytoremediation
? Use of plant biotechnology to remove aluminium toxicity from the soil. The
scientists have introduced a citric acid producing gene in bacteria which reacts
with aluminium and prevents its escape into the roots
? Production of bioplastics
? Produce crops resistant to insecticides and pesticides
We will be dealing with these applications in detail in this chapter.
Phytoremediation
Phytoremediation (Phyto-plant and Remedium-restoring balance) is the use of plants
to clean up the environment. In this process plants are utilized to remove, destroy or
sequester hazardous chemicals from the environment. It has numerous advantages
over traditional methods of waste management. It is a very cost effective method, has
aesthetic advantages and has long term applicability. The plants can be monitored
easily and there is a possibility of recovery and re-utilization of valuable metals
(phytomining). It appears to be a potentially less harmful method of remediation as it
preserves the environment in a natural state and uses natural organisms.
Bioremediation or use of living organisms for environment clean up, is now being
stated as to be among “the top ten technologies for the improvement of human health
in developing countries” (Daar et al., 2002). Limitations of phytoremediation include
the potential of introduction of contaminant or its metabolite into the food chain
leading to bioaccumulation of contaminants. Also it is limited to the surface area and
depth occupied by the roots. Sometimes slow growth and low biomass needs long term
dedication. Contaminants can leach out into groundwater. Toxicity might also be
encountered in establishment and maintenance of plants at waste sites. Long clean up
times are required to achieve regulatory action levels.
There are various types of phytoremediation processes:
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 4
Figure: Various processes of phytoremediation: contaminants in soil as well as
groundwater could be uptaken by plant roots (phytoextraction), be sequestered
(phytostablization), degraded into harmless compounds (phytodegradation), volatilized
in atmosphere (phytovolatilization) or could be degraded by soil microbes
(rhizodegradation).
Source: http://whenitrains.commons.gc.cuny.edu/files/2013/08/Phytoremediation-
580x747.jpg (CC)
Visit link for animations:
http://www.webapps.cee.vt.edu/ewr/environmental/teach/gwprimer/phyto/ph
yto.html
? Phytoextraction (Phytoaccumulation):
It is a process where the pollutants or waste materials are taken up or
absorbed by the plant roots and stored in above ground and harvestable part of
Page 5
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 1
Lesson Prepared Under MHRD project “National Mission
on Education Through ICT”
Discipline: Botany
Paper: Plant Biotechnology
National Coordinator: Prof. S.C. Bhatla
Lesson: Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Lesson Developer: Dr Meenakshi Vachher,
Assistant Professor,Department of Biochemistry, Institute of
Home Economics,University of Delhi
Lesson Reviewer: Dr Parul Agarwal, Department of Genetics,
University of Delhi South Campus
Language Editor: Namrata Dhaka
Department/College: Department of Genetics, University of
Delhi, South Campus
Lesson Editor: Dr Rama Sisodia, Fellow in Botany ILLL
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 2
Table of Contents
Chapter: Role of Plant Biotechnology in environment
? Introduction
? Phytoremediation
? Phytoextraction
? Phytotransformation
? Phytostablization
? Rhizodegradation
? Phytovolatilization
? Rhizofiltration
? Transgenics and phytoremediation
? Phytoremediation of heavy metals
? Mercury
? Selenium
? Arsenic
? Phytoremediation of herbicides, explosives and organic
compounds
? Plant associated microbes
? Ozone tolerant plants
? Plant diagnosis
? Biofuels and biotechnology
? Insecticide and herbicide resistant plants
? Bioplastics
? Summary
? Exercise/ Practice
? Glossary
? References/ Bibliography/ Further Reading
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 3
Introduction
Plants are indispensable to our life as they provide us food, oxygen and also help in
preserving the environment. The major applications of using plant biotechnology to
improve our environment include:
? Use of plants to remove toxic chemicals by phytoremediation
? Use of plant biotechnology to remove aluminium toxicity from the soil. The
scientists have introduced a citric acid producing gene in bacteria which reacts
with aluminium and prevents its escape into the roots
? Production of bioplastics
? Produce crops resistant to insecticides and pesticides
We will be dealing with these applications in detail in this chapter.
Phytoremediation
Phytoremediation (Phyto-plant and Remedium-restoring balance) is the use of plants
to clean up the environment. In this process plants are utilized to remove, destroy or
sequester hazardous chemicals from the environment. It has numerous advantages
over traditional methods of waste management. It is a very cost effective method, has
aesthetic advantages and has long term applicability. The plants can be monitored
easily and there is a possibility of recovery and re-utilization of valuable metals
(phytomining). It appears to be a potentially less harmful method of remediation as it
preserves the environment in a natural state and uses natural organisms.
Bioremediation or use of living organisms for environment clean up, is now being
stated as to be among “the top ten technologies for the improvement of human health
in developing countries” (Daar et al., 2002). Limitations of phytoremediation include
the potential of introduction of contaminant or its metabolite into the food chain
leading to bioaccumulation of contaminants. Also it is limited to the surface area and
depth occupied by the roots. Sometimes slow growth and low biomass needs long term
dedication. Contaminants can leach out into groundwater. Toxicity might also be
encountered in establishment and maintenance of plants at waste sites. Long clean up
times are required to achieve regulatory action levels.
There are various types of phytoremediation processes:
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 4
Figure: Various processes of phytoremediation: contaminants in soil as well as
groundwater could be uptaken by plant roots (phytoextraction), be sequestered
(phytostablization), degraded into harmless compounds (phytodegradation), volatilized
in atmosphere (phytovolatilization) or could be degraded by soil microbes
(rhizodegradation).
Source: http://whenitrains.commons.gc.cuny.edu/files/2013/08/Phytoremediation-
580x747.jpg (CC)
Visit link for animations:
http://www.webapps.cee.vt.edu/ewr/environmental/teach/gwprimer/phyto/ph
yto.html
? Phytoextraction (Phytoaccumulation):
It is a process where the pollutants or waste materials are taken up or
absorbed by the plant roots and stored in above ground and harvestable part of
Role of Plant Biotechnology in Environment
Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi 5
biomass. It is a very advantageous process as it is environment friendly and
doesn?t affect soil quality. Traditional methods of heavy metal cleanup disrupt
soil structure and reduce productivity of soil. It is also a cost effective method
of waste cleanup. Also, it is important to remove these plants after sometime so
that they do not pollute the environment.
The above ground parts of plants can be harvested and burnt to gain energy
and recycle metals from ash. This process has been extensively used for
remediation of heavy metals like Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni, Cu using plants like Indian
mustard (Brassica juncea), sunflower (Helianthus spp.) and Thlaspi carulescens.
Effective phytoextraction requires hyperaccumulator plants i.e., those plants
that are capable of accumulating over 100 times more metal concentrations as
compared to non-accumulator plants. For example, In 1990s Nickel
hyperaccumulator Berkheya coddii was utilized to decontaminate land near the
Rustenburg smelter (South Africa). Arsenic has been cleaned up using
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) or Bracken fern, a hyperaccumulator. Bracken
stores arsenic in its leaves as much as 200 times as compared to soil. Lead has
been phytoextracted using Indian Mustard, Ragweed or Hemp Dogbane.
Figure: Chelate assisted phytoremediation. Metal concentration is the solid line and
shoot biomass is represented by dashed line.
Source: http://www.personal.psu.edu/users//d/g/dgh5037/extEssay.html (CC)
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