Role of root exudates in metal acquisition and tolerance

- Strategy I plants secrete riboflavins or phenolics to facilitate Fe acquisition.
- Strategy II plants secrete phytosiderophores to acquire Fe.
- Exudation of organic acids is important for heavy metal detoxification.

Plants acquire mineral nutrients mostly through the rhizosphere; they secrete a large number of metabolites into the rhizosphere to regulate nutrient availability and to detoxify undesirable metal pollutants in soils. The secreted metabolites are inorganic ions, gaseous molecules, and mainly carbon-based compounds. This review focuses on the mechanisms and regulation of low-molecular-weight organic-compound exudation in terms of metal acquisition. We summarize findings on riboflavin/phenolic-facilitated and phytosiderophore-facilitated iron acquisition and discuss recent studies of the functions and secretion mechanisms of low-molecular-weight organic acids in heavy-metal detoxification.