Track 1-01: Understanding Stress Physiology of Grasses and Forages
Description
On a global scale, acidic soils cover an estimated 37.8 million km2 of the earth's surface, and up to 50% of the world’s potentially arable soils are acidic. Aluminum (Al) is highly abundant in acid soil conditions. At low (< 5.5) pH, a toxic form of aluminum, Al3+, is solubilized from aluminosilicate clay minerals into soil solutions. High concentrations of Al3+ in soil solutions caused seriously damage to plants by enhancing lipid per-oxidation, limiting root elongation and nutrient uptake, as well as decreasing plant growth (Kochian et al. 2005). Al toxicity represents one of the most important constraints for agricultural production in areas with acidic soils. Organic acid exudation or accumulation in roots could alleviate plant Al toxicity in acidic soils. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important legume used as a forage crop worldwide. Al toxicity is a major factor limiting alfalfa production in soils with low pH. However, limited information is available on the effects of different organic acids on Al tolerance in alfalfa. The purpose of this study was to confirm that different organic acids may assume different function in Al tolerance of alfalfa via Al exclusion or internal detoxification.
Included in
Effects of Organic Acids on Alleviation of Aluminum Toxicity in Alfalfa
On a global scale, acidic soils cover an estimated 37.8 million km2 of the earth's surface, and up to 50% of the world’s potentially arable soils are acidic. Aluminum (Al) is highly abundant in acid soil conditions. At low (< 5.5) pH, a toxic form of aluminum, Al3+, is solubilized from aluminosilicate clay minerals into soil solutions. High concentrations of Al3+ in soil solutions caused seriously damage to plants by enhancing lipid per-oxidation, limiting root elongation and nutrient uptake, as well as decreasing plant growth (Kochian et al. 2005). Al toxicity represents one of the most important constraints for agricultural production in areas with acidic soils. Organic acid exudation or accumulation in roots could alleviate plant Al toxicity in acidic soils. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important legume used as a forage crop worldwide. Al toxicity is a major factor limiting alfalfa production in soils with low pH. However, limited information is available on the effects of different organic acids on Al tolerance in alfalfa. The purpose of this study was to confirm that different organic acids may assume different function in Al tolerance of alfalfa via Al exclusion or internal detoxification.
