METALLOPHYTES: An integrated approach towards removal by plants of toxic metals from polluted soils

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 02.0447

Key words (English)

Biotechnology; Environmental Protection; Innovation; Technology Transfer; Life Sciences; Medicine; Health; Waste Management

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLK-2000-00479

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.3 The 'cell factory'

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Universität Zürich
Institut für Pflanzenbiologie
Labor für molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie

Abstract (English)

By employing an ecologically and economically beneficial strategy we expect to reclaim land currently deemed unusable or agriculture in the European Union. The project aims to generate plants for safe, cost-effective phyto-extraction of toxic metals from soils (phytoremediation). Genes essential for metal tolerance and homeostasis will be determined by using integrated physiological, molecular, biochemical and electrophysiologial approaches. The final result will be transgenic Festuca with improved heavy metal tolerance and/or tolerance.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 02.0447