Metals and Metalloids in Soil-Plant-Water Systems

Tariq Aftab received his PhD from the Department of Botany at Aligarh Muslim University, India, where he is currently a Senior Assistant Professor. He is the recipient of a prestigious Leibniz DAAD fellowship from Germany, a Raman Fellowship from the Government of India, and Young Scientist Awards from both the State Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Government of India. He has also served as a Visiting Scientist at IPK Gatersleben, Germany, and in the Department of Plant Biology at Michigan State University, United States. Dr. Aftab has edited numerous books for major international publishers, including Elsevier, Springer Nature, and CRC Press. He has co-authored several book chapters and published extensively in peer-reviewed, international journals. His research interests include physiological, proteomic, and molecular studies on medicinal and crop plants. Dr. Hakeem is a Professor at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Head of the Plant Biotechnology Research Unit at the Princess Dr. Najlaa Bint Saud Al Saud Center for Distinguished Research in Biotechnology. His academic journey includes roles as Assistant Professor at the University of Kashmir and research appointments in Malaysia. He holds a Ph.D. in Botany from Jamia Hamdard, India, with expertise in plant eco-physiology, molecular biology, biotechnology, and medicinal plant research. He has authored numerous books, journal articles, and book chapters, and serves on editorial boards for leading publishers. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and affiliated with international scientific societies. His work focuses on advancing plant science through global collaborations and research on eco-physiological and molecular processes.

• 1. Metal and metalloids speciation, fractionation, bioavailability and transfer toward plants2. Uptake and translocation of metals/metalloids in plants through soil and water3. Soil and water pollution with metals/metalloids: Sources, types and interference4. Antioxidant, photosynthesis and growth characteristics of plants grown with excess of metals/metalloids in soils5. Assessment of environmental cytotoxicity metal/metalloid pollution impact on plants6. Molecular investigation of plant-soil-water interactions at functional level7. Effects of metals/metalloids on the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in plant tissues8. Application of biochar and other biostimulants for sustainable remediation of metals and metalloids9. Remediation of toxic metals/metalloids from soil and water through transgenic plants: A review10. Application of biosurfactants for improving agricultural soil quality by soil remediation11. Metal oxidizing microbes and potential application in bioremediation of soil and water12. Interaction of nanomaterials with plant and soil and their use in remediation technologies13. Mycoremediation of metal/metalloid-contaminated soil: Biorecovery using fungi/AM fungi14. Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB): Application and challenges in bioremediation of metal and metalloid contaminated soils15. An overview of recent green technologies to remediate metal/metalloid-contaminated soils