Research progress on tolerance of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) to heavy metal

Much research has been conducted on the mechanism of phytoremediation of heavy metal pollution by Indian mustard. Indian mustard plants typically have high heavy metal (e.g. Zn and Cd) accumulation capacity. Changes had been noted in plant gene expression, cell morphology and cell structure under high heavy metal concentration, which eventually resulted in growth inhibition and even death. In Indian mustard, high efficient antioxidant system, injury-repairing system and chelation, compartmentalization for heavy metals could detoxicate the toxicity of heavy metals and alleviate the injury induced by heavy metals. Transgenic Indian mustard with tolerance or transport genes improved heavy metal accumulation ability. This implied that Indian mustard had a great potential for phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils.