The effect of aluminum treatments on the root growth and cell ultrastructure of two soybean genotypes

Since aluminum (Al) toxicity often negatively affects the growth and production of crops in acidic soil, understanding the mechanisms of plant physiological response to Al toxicity would facilitate the development of more Al-tolerant crops. The objective of this research is, therefore, using transmission electron microscope and spectrophotometer to study the physiology and cell ultrastructure changes of two soybean cultivars of distinctly different sensitivities to Al toxicity, Zhechun 2 (Z.2, Al-resistant) and Zhechun 3 (Z.3, Al-sensitive) after Al treatments. Using these two cultivars, we conducted a 14-day nutrient solution experiment with Al concentrations set at 0, 10, 30, 60 and 90 mg L⁻¹. The results demonstrated that Al inhibited the growth of soybean root systems and severely damaged root cells. In contrast to the Al-resistant cultivar, the Al-sensitive cultivar Z.3 showed a larger plasma membrane permeability than Z.2 when treated with Al. In addition, the root elongation, activity, appearance of root tips and root hair zone were all altered by Al treatments. For example, after the 10 mg L⁻¹ Al treatment, the number of mitochondria had proliferated significantly in the root tip cells; plasmolysis was observed in the 30 mg L⁻¹ Al treatment; and the cell wall had ruptured and the cellular contents had disappeared in the high-level Al treatments. The results of our study showed in detail how soybean roots changed physiologically in response to Al stress.