What’s new about cadmium hyperaccumulation?

Research into Cd uptake in T. caerulescens ecotypes is providing insight into comparative plant physiology and a unique transport process. Beyond this, given the threat to the human food chain posed by Cd, research into hyperaccumulators does also have more immediate, applied perspectives. Further molecular studies are now important for the high-affinity transporter demonstrated in the Ganges ecotype – and this should also pave the way to improved phytoremediation.