Effects of varying phosphorus additions on aluminum in solutions

Abstract

Effects of varying additions of phosphorus (0, 0.8, 8 and 80 μM P) on the concentrations of total and monomeric aluminum (Al) and on calculated sum of activities of monomeric Al species (Sa_{Al mono}) were investigated during 21 d of aging in deionised water containing 40 μM Al with either 0 or 1500 μM calcium (Ca). These P and Ca treatments were also maintained in deionised water without the addition of Al. The concentrations of total and monomeric Al decreased with an increase in P additions at the 8 and 80 μM P although the effect was negligible at the 0.8 μM P. The effects of increase in P additions on the monomeric Al were almost instant as evident from 12 to 49 percent decrease in its concentration after only an hour of aging. However, marked effects of P on the total Al were observed after 3 d of aging. On 21 d of aging in solutions with 8 and 80 pH P, the concentrations of total and monomeric Al decreased by 17 to 34 percent and 20 to 60 percent, respectively. The presence of Ca had negligible effects on the concentrations of either total or monomeric Al at the varying P additions. However, the calculated Sa_{Al mono} for a given P concentration treatment over Al mono 21 d of aging were considerably lower in solutions with 1500 μM Ca than with 0 Ca. At each P concentration treatment, Sa_{Al mono} were considerably lower than the concentration of monomeric Al in solutions with 1500 μM Ca, while in solutions with 0 Ca the above difference was negligible. During the 21 d of aging, in solutions containing 40 μM Al, the measured P concentrations in the 0.8, 8 and 80 μM nominal P concentration treatments decreased by 44, 37, and 19 percent respectively, at the 0 Ca treatments and 50, 56 and 24 percent respectively, at the 1500 μM Ca treatments.     

Effects of phosphogypsum or calcium sulfate on aluminon reactive aluminum in solutions at varying pH

Abstract

Growing evidence of positive crop responses to gypsum or phosphogypsum (PG) application in acid soils strongly support the use of these amendments as an ameliorant of subsoil acidity. Although gypsum improves Ca availability in subsoils, its role in alleviation of Al toxicity needs careful attention. In the current study, either PG, CaSO₄.2H₂O or CaCl₂.2H₂O was added (to supply 12 mM Ca) to solutions containing 40 μM Al at pH 4.1 + 0.1. Solution pH was gradually raised to 4.5, 4.8 and then to 5.3 at various time intervals during 25 d aging of the solutions at 25 + 1^OC.

Concentration of Al measured by aluminon method without preacidification and preheating, referred to as “reactive Al”; in this paper, was 16 μM in 2 g L^‐1PG solution without added Al. This accounted 38% of total soluble Al in PG solution. Addition of 2 g L^‐1PG to solution containing 40 μM Al, resulted in only 42% of total Al in solution present in forms reactive with aluminon. According to MINTEQ speciation model, Al in solution was present as an entirely complexed form with F^‐. An increase in solution pH up to 5.3 had no effect on measured concentration of reactive Al or predicted distribution of Al species.

Addition of CaSO₄.2H₂O to 40 μMAl solutions had no effect on the concentration of reactive Al within pH 4.1 ‐4.8, however, up to 62% of total Al was in a form complexed with SO₄ ^2‐, as predicted by MINTEQ model. The concentration of reactive Al decreased by 60% at pH 5.3. Addition of CaCl₂.2H₂O also had no effect on the concentration of reactive Al within pH 4.1 ‐ 4.8. Nearly 73 ‐ 94% of total Al was present in Al³⁺form. An increase in pH to 5.3, decreased the concentration of reactive Al by 27%. The results suggest that ion‐pairing of Al with F^‐would appear to be a possible mechanism for alleviation of Al toxicity by PG at pH range 4.1 ‐ 5.3. With regard to CaSO₄.2H₂O, at pH 4.1 ‐ 4.8 ion‐pairing with SO.₄ ^2‐appears to be possible mechanism for the alleviation of Al toxicity. In addition, at pH 5.3 a considerable decrease in reactive Al was evident which would further alleviate Al toxicity.     

Response of cotton cultivars to aluminum in solutions with varying silicon concentrations

Abstract

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is extremely sensitive to Al toxicity. Increasing Si concentration in solution has been reported to alleviate AI toxicity. In this investigation the effects of varying Si concentrations (700, 1400, and 2800 μM Si) on reactive Al (defined as Al reactive with aluminon during 10‐s reaction time, without acidification and heating) was studied in solutions containing either 50, 100 or 200 μM Al during 50 d of aging. An increase in Si concentration had negligible effects on the reactive Al in solutions with 50 or 100 μM Al. However, in solutions with 200 μM Al the reactive Al decreased by 6 to 15% with an increase in Si concentration from 0 to 2800 μM.

The effects of either 700, 1400 or 2800 μM Si on root growth of Coker 208, Coker 315, DPL 90, McNair 235, Stoneville 506 and Tifcot 56 cotton cultivars were investigated in solutions containing either 0, 10, 20 or 40 μM Al with 500 μM Ca at pH 4.5. In solutions containing no Al, addition of 700 μM Si improved root growth by 69–87% in Coker 315, DPL 90 and McNair 235 cultivars but not in the other cultivars. In solutions containing 10 μM Al, an increase in Si concentration from 0 to 2800 μM improved the root growth by 15–17% in DPL 90 and McNair 235 cultivars only. An increase in Si additions failed to improve root growth of any of the cultivars in solutions with 20 or 40 μM Al.     

Characterization of Rhizobium trifolii isolated from soils of different pH

Rhizobium trifolii were isolated from soils along a transect covering a range of soil pH (3.6–5.6) using two varieties of white clover by either growing seedlings directly in soil or in nutrient solution in tubes inoculated with soil. Rhizobia were present at pH 4.5 but absent at pH 3.9. Neither nodule number nor effectiveness were influenced by the method of isolation and the clover variety on which the strain was isolated. There was no relationship between the pH of the soils and either the number of nodules or the effectiveness of the isolates from those soils. Screening the isolates for tolerance of acidity and Al showed that multiplication was unaffected at pH 5.0 but was slowed for all strains at pH 4.5. Multiplication at pH 5.5 was unaffected by 10 μM Al but was inhibited by 50 μM Al. At pH 4.5 all but 16% of the isolates were inhibited by 10 μM Al; none multiplied with 50 μM Al. The strains which multiplied at pH 4.5 with and without Al were isolated equally from soils in the range pH 4.5–5.6. They were also isolated in almost equal proportions from the two varieties of clover and by the two isolation methods. Overall there was little variation in the effectiveness and acid- and Al-tolerance of isolates from these soils of different pH.     

Calcium alleviation of hydrogen and aluminum inhibition of soybean root extension from limed soil into acid subsurface solutions

Alleviation by calcium (Ca) of inhibition of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. ‘Ransom'] root elongation by hydrogen (H) and aluminum (Al) was evaluated in a vertical split‐root system. Roots extending from a limed and fertilized soil compartment grew for 12 days into a subsurface compartment containing nutrient solution with treatments consisting of factorial combinations of either pH (4.0, 4.6, and 5.5) and Ca (0.2, 2.0, 10, and 20 mM), Al (7.5, 15, and 30 μM) and Ca (2.0,10, and 20 mM) at pH 4.6, or Ca (2, 7, and 12 mM) levels and counter ions (SO₄ and Cl) at pH 4.6 and 15 μM Al. Length of tap roots and their laterals increased with solution Ca concentration and pH value, but decreased with increasing Al level. Length of both tap and lateral roots were greater when Ca was supplied as CaSO₄ than as CaCl₂, but increasing Ca concentration from 2 to 12 mM had a greater effect on alleviating Al toxicity than Ca source. In the absence of Al, relative root length (RRL) of tap and lateral roots among pH and Ca treatments was related to the Ca:H molar activity ratio of solutions (R²≥0.82). Tap and lateral RRL among solutions with variable concentrations of Al and Ca at pH 4.6 were related to both the sum of the predicted activities of monomeric Al (R²≥0.92) and a log‐transformed and valence‐weighted balance between activities of Ca and selected monomeric Al species (R²≥0.95). In solutions with 15 μM Al at pH 4.6, response of tap and lateral RRL to variable concentrations of CaSO₄ and CaCl₂ were related to predicted molar activity ratios of both Ca:Al³⁺ (R²≥0.89) and Ca:3 monomeric Al (R²≥0.90), provided that AISO₄ and AI(SO₄)₂ species were excluded from the latter index. In all experiments H and Al inhibited length of lateral roots more than tap roots, and a greater Ca:H or Ca:Al concentration ratio was required in solutions to achieve similar RRL values as tap roots.     

Effect of Glomus etunicatum inoculation on aluminum,phosphorus, calcium,and magnesium uptake of two barley genotypes with different aluminum tolerance

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus Glomus etunicatum on growth, absorption, and distribution of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), and aluminum (Al) in one Al‐tolerant and one Al‐sensitive barley cultivar. The plants were grown in sand daily irrigated with nutrient solution containing 0 or 600 μM Al at pH 4.8. Significant interaction (P=0.05) among variety, mycorrhiza, and aluminum (VxMxAl) were noted for both shoot and root dry matter (DM); shoot concentration and content of Al, P, Ca, and Mg; root concentration of Al, P, and Mg; and root content of Al, P, Ca, and Mg. With VAM inoculation: i) root colonization degree was about 50% in all treatment, ii) shoot DM yield increased between 30 and 70%, iii) Al concentration and content decrease down to a half both in shoots and roots of sensitive barley, iv) Ca concentration in shoots of sensitive barley showed a high increase at 600 μM Al, and v) P concentration and content in shoots of both varieties increased significantly.     

Amelioration of aluminum toxicity to sorghum seedlings by chelating agents

At the pH levels found in acid soils (4.5 to 5.5), theoretical equilibrium models predict that Al will be complexed on a nearly one to one molar basis by NTA, EGTA. oxalate (OX) and citrate (CIT). Growth chamber experiments were initiated using solutions containing Al (0, 2, or 10 μM), Ca (400 μ.M). and a chelate (0 or 10 μM) growing sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench cv. AT×399 × RT×430] for four days following germination to test the equilibrium models. The pH and concentration of Al in the solutions were measured before and after each experiment. Plant root length and weight, and shoot weights were used as a bioassay for the uncomplexed, toxic Al. Root length showed the greatest response to aluminum and chelate treatments, although root weight and shoot weight gave the same general results. Chelate effectiveness in reducing Al toxicity was NTA > OX = CIT > EGTA. The pH values were altered very little by NTA or EGTA and averaged 5.2 to 5.3; however, the pH was raised 0.2 to 0.9 units by OX and CIT. Thus, some detoxifying effect from the latter two could be a pH effect. No chelate effect was evident at pH values near 6 for CIT, but the chelate was effective in reducing Al toxicity at pH 5.6, indicating the importance of pH in Al toxicity. NTA alone did not affect root length, but the other chelates all decreased root length to a small degree at 0 μM Al indicating that the chelate itself was detrimental to growth. It was concluded that NTA was an effective chelate to detoxify Al and EGTA was not. Also it was found that OX and CIT behave quite differently from NTA and EGTA in that they affect pH and lower solution Al concentration. The method did not confirm the equilibrium models for EGTA, OX, or CIT because of complicating factors such as pH variation and damage to the roots by the chelates. The equilibrium model for NTA, though, was confirmed.     

Effect of varying solution calcium or magnesium concentrations in the presence or absence of aluminum on yield and plant calcium or magnesium concentrations in wheat

The effect of varying solution calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations in the absence or presence of 10 μM aluminum (Al) was investigated in several experiments using a low ionic strength (2.7 × 10^‐3 M) solution culture technique. Aluminium‐tolerant and Al‐sensitive lines of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown. In the absence of Al, top yields decreased when solution Ca concentrations were <50 μM or plant Ca concentrations were <2.0 mg/g. Top and root yields decreased when solution Mg concentrations were <50 μM or plant Mg concentrations were <1.5 mg/g. There were no differences between the lines in solution or plant concentrations at which yield declined. Increasing solution Ca concentrations decreased plant Mg concentrations in the tops (competitive ion effect) but increased plant Mg concentrations in the roots of wheat. This suggests that Ca is competing with Mg when Mg is transported from the roots. Increasing solution Mg concentrations decreased plant Ca concentrations in the tops and the roots (competitive ion effect). In the roots, increasing solution Mg concentrations decreased plant Ca concentrations at a lower solution Ca concentration in the Al‐sensitive line than the Al‐tolerant line. In the presence of Al, increasing solution Ca and Mg concentrations increased yield (Ca and Mg ameliorating Al toxicity). Yield increased until the sum of the solution concentrations of the divalent cations (Ca+Mg) was 2,000 μM for the Al‐tolerant line or 4,000 μM for the Al‐sensitive line. The exception was that yield decreased when solution Mg concentrations were > 1,500 μM and the solution Ca concentration was 100 μM (Mg exacerbating Al toxicity). The ameliorative effects of solution Ca or Mg on Al tolerance were not related to plant Ca or Mg concentrations per se.     

In vitro evidence of aluminum effects on solution movement through root cell walls

Little is known about the primary effects of aluminum (Al) in reducing root growth. However, the sorption of Al by the root cell wall, particularly by calcium (Ca) pectate, has been suggested as being important in the expression of Al toxicity in plants. To overcome problems arising from the close proximity of root cell components that may react with Al, a synthetic Ca pectate membrane was prepared as a model system for Al studies. Solution containing 1 mM Ca (as CaCl2) was passed through the membrane, and the flow rate measured. Solution containing 29 μM Al (as AlCl3) and 1 mM Ca reduced solution flow rate by > 80% from c. 3.5 to c. 0.6 mL/min within 2 min, with a further slight decline over the next 4 min. The Al concentration in solution proximate to the inlet side of the membrane decreased to 15 μM within 10 min, and only 3 μM Al was measured in solution that had passed through the membrane. These results suggest that an important primary effect of toxic Al is a reduction in water movement into the root, with consequent effects on water relations in the plant.     

The effects of low pH,low calcium concentrations and elevated aluminium concentrations on sodium fluxes in brown trout,Salmo Trutta L.

The effects of pH (c. 7.0, 5.4, 4.5 and 4.0), nominal Al levels (0 and 8 μmol L^?1) and Ca levels (10 and 50 μmol L^?1) on Na influx, efflux and netflux of brown trout have been investigated using artificial lake water of known composition. Low pH had little effect on influx, but tended to increase efflux, particularly in the low Ca treatments. A nominal addition of 8 μmol Al L^?1 at pH 4.5 and 4.0 reduced influx significantly. Efflux was unaffected. Aluminium addition at pH c. 7.0 and 5.4 had no such effect. The measured Al concentrations at the end of the static 8 hr flux measuring experiments were markedly lower than the nominal amount of A1 added to the start.     

Chronic effects of low ph and elevated aluminum on survival,maturation, spawning and embryo-larval development of the fathead minnow in soft water

Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were exposed to a range of pH and A1 concentrations in soft water (8 mg Ca L^?1) to determine effect levels at various life stages. The tested pH levels ranged from 8.0 through 5.2 and inorganic monomeric Al from 15 through 60 μg L^?1. Reproductive processes including spawning, embryogenesis and early larval survival were more sensitive to acid stress than were juvenile growth and survival. Juvenile survival was significantly reduced at pH 5.2 + 60 μg Al L^?1 (P <0.05). Spawning success was reduced at pH 6.0 and 5.5 (P <0.10) and failed completely at pH 5.2, regardless of Al concentration. An apparant beneficial effect of added Al was observed during spawning at pH 7.5 + 35 μg Al L^?1, but this effect was not significantly greater than at pH 7.5 + 15 μg Al L^?1. A significant (P <0.05) decrease in larval survival occurred at pH 6.0 + 15 μg Al L^?1 and lower compared to the survival at pH 7.5 + 15 μg Al L^?1. Aluminum at 30 μg L^?1 provided protection resulting in short term increased embryo-larval survival at pH 5.5. The effect of parental exposure on progeny survival was assessed by an interchange of embryos from the spawning treatment to all tested exposure conditions. When reared at pH 8.0 + 15 μg Al L^?1 through 6.0 + 15 μg Al L^?1 or at pH 5.5 + 30 μg Al L^?1, parental exposure did not significantly influence progeny survival. However, survival was significantly reduced among progeny from brood fish reared at pH 5.5 + 15 μg Al L^?1 as compared to those spawned at pH 6.0 + 15 μg Al L^?1 and above, or at pH 5.5 + 30 μg Al L^?1 (P <0.05). Juvenile or 14 d larval growth effects were not detected under any exposure condition (P >0.05). Ultimately, fathead minnow young-of-the-year recruitment and production potential can be expected to diminish when environmental pH falls to 6.0, and to fail completely at 5.5 and lower.     

Suitability of the aluminon technique for measuring phytotoxic aluminum in solutions with varying sulfate concentrations

Abstract

Considerable uncertainty prevails concerning a suitable measure that can adequately describe Al phytotoxicity in nutrient and soil solutions. A study was conducted to evaluate the ability of a modified aluminon technique to discriminate between phytotoxic and non‐phytotoxic Al in solutions containing 80 μM Al with varying levels of CaSO₄(625 to 10000 μM), at two pH levels (4.2 and 4.8). The concentration of Al measured by the modified aluminon technique ranged from 18.3 to 77.7 μM,thereby indicating substantial polymerization in some of the solutions. The greatest amount of polymerization occurred at pH 4.8 in the presence of 625 μM CaSO₄. Increasing additions of CaSO₄resulted in an increase in predicted activity of AlSO₄ ⁺at both pH levels. However, with increasing addition of CaSO₄, the predicted activity of Al³⁺decreased at pH 4.2 or remained relatively constant at pH 4.8. The relationship between the sum of predicted activities of monomeric Al (Sa_{Al mono.}) in solution and tap root length of soybean [Glvcine max(L.) Merr.] cv. Lee was extremely poor, thereby indicating the inability of the modified aluminon technique to measure phytotoxic Al in solutions employed in the current study. This difficulty was due to failure of the modified aluminon technique to exclude lesser phytotoxic AlSO₄ ⁺species. The activity of Al³⁺was closely related to tap root length (R²= 0.865). The prediction of root length response to Al was further improved (R²= 0.899) by considering the solution Al index as: S[3a_A13+ + 2a_Al(OH)2+ + a_A1(OH)+]. There was a poor relationship between tap root length and the concentration of polymeric Al, thus suggesting the lower phytotoxicity of this component under the prevailing solution conditions.     

Aluminium Induced Magnesium Deficiency in Oats

It was the objective to study the effect of Al on Mg uptake by plants, precluding as far as possible the effect of Al on root growth. Oat plants were grown in a complete standard nutrient solution without any differential treatment, in order to obtain a set of plants which did not differ in the size, the morphology and the physiology of the root system. After the first harvest at the beginning of the stem elongation stage 4 different treatments were introduced: pH 5.5-6.0, pH 5.5-6.0 without Mg, pH 3.8-4.1, pH 3.8-4.1 + 0.3 mmole Al/l. Apart from these variations the composition of the nutrient solution remained unaltered. After another 10 days 2 vessels of each treatment were harvested. The final harvest was 14 days after the beginning of the differential treatments. The growth (in terms of dry matter yield) of neither the shoots nor the roots was adversely affected by the differential treatments, although the plants in the Al and Mg₀ treatments showed distinct symptoms of nutritional disorder. The plants in the low and the high pH treatments differed neither in Mg uptakte nor in Mg concentration in the plants. However, the addition of Al to the nutrient solution reduced Mg uptake in the shoots to about 30% of that in the Al₀ treatments, while there was a net loss of Mg in the roots in spite of the fact that dry matter increased. This means that net uptake of Mg was less than was translocated to the shoot during the period of differential treatments. With no Al in the nutrient solution the Mg concentration in the shoots declined by 3–8% between the first and the final harvest, whereas it increased by 22–35% in the roots. If, however, Al was added to the nutrient solution the Mg concentration dropped by 46% in the shoots and 70% in the roots. With the exception of Ca in the roots, the differential treatments had no effect on the uptake and concentration of Ca, K and P in the plants. In terms of dry matter the differential treatments did not influence root growth and it was concluded that Al had a direct effect on Mg uptake by either inactivating or competing for uptake sites or carriers.     

Proton toxicity interferes with the screening of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes for aluminium resistance in nutrient solution

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) proved to be very sensitive of low pH (4.3), with large genotypic differences in proton sensitivity. Therefore, proton toxicity did not allow the screening of common bean genotypes for aluminium (Al) resistance using the established protocol for maize (0.5 mM CaCl₂, 8 μM H₃BO₃, pH 4.3). Increasing the pH to 4.5, the Ca²⁺ concentration to 5 mM, and addition of 0.5 mM KCl fully prevented proton toxicity in 28 tested genotypes and allowed to identify differences in Al resistance using the inhibition of root elongation by 20 μM Al supply for 36 h as parameter of Al injury. As in maize, Al treatment induced callose formation in root apices of common bean. Aluminium‐induced callose formation well reflected the effect of Ca supply on Al sensitivity as revealed by root‐growth inhibition. Aluminum‐induced callose formation in root apices of 28 bean genotypes differing in Al resistance after 36 h Al treatment was positively correlated to Al‐induced inhibition of root elongation and Al contents in the root apices. However, the relationship was less close than previously reported for maize. Also, after 12 h Al treatment, callose formation and Al contents in root apices did not reflect differences in Al resistance between two contrasting genotypes, indicating a different mode of the expression of Al toxicity and regulation of Al resistance in common bean than in maize.     

Screening clover and Lotus rhizobia for tolerance of acidity and aluminium

Clover rhizobia (55 strains) were screened for tolerance of acidity and Al, using the technique of Keyser and Munns (1979). Assessment of visible turbidity after 14 days indicated three strains tolerant of pH 4.5 (although growth rate was reduced), 25 strains tolerant of 5μm Al and no strains tolerant of 50 μ m Al at pH 5.5.50 μmAl caused a decrease in the numbers of acid-tolerant strains at pH 4.5. Tolerance of acidity or Al was not associated with the pH or Al status of the soil from which a strain was isolated.Screening of eight strains of clover rhizobia and nine strains of Lotus rhizobia using turbidity assessment and viable counts indicated seven strains of clover rhizobia with different degrees of tolerance of 20 μm Al but none tolerant of 50 μm Al at pH 5.5. All Lotus rhizobia (both slow- and fast-growers) were tolerant of 20 and 50 μm Al at pH 5.5, with 50 μm Al causing a reduction in growth rate.Subculturing of strains in non-stressed and stressed media had no effect on the response to 50 μmAl at pH 5.5.     

SOLUBLE ALUMINIUM AND CALCIUM-ALUMINIUM EXCHANGE IN RELATION TO THE pH OF DILUTE CALCIUM CHLORIDE SUSPENSIONS OF ACID SOILS

Measurements of pH and A1 concentration were made on 10^-2 M CaCl₂, suspensions of a number of acid soils that had been limed to give 3 range of pH values, and exchangeable A1 and Ca+Mg were determined in 1.0 M NH₄Cl extracts. The variation of pH with A1 concentration did not support the theory that pH is controlled by the solubility of Al(OH)₃. For some of the soils, proton release on hydrolysis of A1₃₊ions in solution accounted for the pH values, and explained quantitatively the variation of pH with the Ca:Al balance of the exchange complex, taking account of the selectivity coefficient for exchange, K_ca→A1 Although K_ca→A1 was smaller for soils containing more humus, their pH values were also less than those predicted by the hydrolysis of A1³⁺ in solution, indicating that they contained other sources of protons, presumably the carboxyl groups in humus.     

Supernatant solutions containing various levels of aluminum and similar concentrations of phosphorus for aluminum phytotoxicity studies

Abstract

Precipitation of Al(OH)₃ and aluminum phosphate may occur in nutrient solution if a large amount of Al and P have been added to a relatively high pH. The objective of this study was to develop and test a supernatant‐solution method for Al phytotoxicity studies with large and/or old plant seedlings. Effects of pH and additions of Al and P on ionic strength and concentrations of Al and P in supernatant nutrient solutions were investigated. Two sets of supernatant nutrient solutions at two pH levels were prepared. The pH 4.0 set and 4.5 set contained seven levels of Al (maximum Al concentration of 6355 and 378 μM) and similar P concentration about 32 and 6 μM P, respectively. The Al concentrations in supernatant solutions were dependent on preparation procedure. The pH 4.0 set was tested in the greenhouse study with 6‐month‐old citrus seedlings and found to be successful as culture solutions for Al phytotoxicity studies. These two sets are suitable for growth of large (about 0.3 m) and/or old (about 6 mon.) seedlings. This supernatant‐solution method makes it possible to study Al phytotoxicity of large and/or old seedlings, to avoid the confounding effects of P on Al with respect to plant growth, and to report the actual concentrations of Al and P in growth solutions.     

油茶根系吸收铝导致生长介质酸化

选用油茶为试验材料,采用固体琼脂培养和溶液培养两种试验体系,研究了油茶根系吸收铝离子与生长介质pH变化的关系。琼脂培养试验结果表明,在钙离子和铝离子介质中,油茶根际区域均发生了明显的酸化;溶液培养试验结果进一步表明,阳离子的吸收尤其是铝离子的吸收是介质酸化的原因,铝与钙同时存在时,溶液酸化主要是由铝离子的吸收引起的。另外,随着溶液铝浓度的增加,溶液pH下降幅度增加,二者之间呈现极显著正相关关系,且油茶培养时间越长,溶液pH下降越多。所有这些结果表明油茶吸收铝会降低生长介质pH。     

Changes in Cell Wall Polysaccharides and Hydroxycinnamates in Wheat Roots by Aluminum Stress at Higher Calcium Supply

The present study was conducted to investigate the cell-wall polysaccharides and hydroxycinnamates in wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) under aluminum (Al) stress at a higher level of calcium (Ca) supply. Seedlings were grown in nutrient solution for 7 d and then subjected to treatment solutions containing Al (0 or 100 μM) and Ca (0 or 2500 μM) in a 500 μM CaCl ₂ solution at pH 4.5 for 8 d. Calcium treatment (2500 μM) improved root growth significantly under Al-stress conditions. The contents of pectin and hemicellulose in roots were increased under Al-stress conditions, and this increase was conspicuous in the hemicellulosic fraction. The increase in the hemicellulose was attributed to increases in arabinose, xylose, and glucose in neutral sugars. High Ca treatment decreased these contents in Al-stressed cell walls. Aluminum treatment increased the content of ferulic acid, whereas Ca treatment with Al reduced the content. These results suggest that Al may modify the mechanical properties of cell-wall polysaccharides by enhancing the synthesis of arabinoxylan, β-glucan, and ferulic acid in the cell wall. High Ca treatment may maintain the normal synthesis of these materials even under Al-stress conditions.     

Calcium Nutrition of Peanut Grown in Solution Culture. II. Pod-zone and Tissue Calcium Requirements for Fruiting of a Virginia and a Spanish Peanut

Virginia peanut types need more calcium (Ca) in the soil than Spanish types for high pod yield, but their actual soil solution and fruit tissue Ca requirements have not been well defined. A split root and pod solution culture technique was used to examine the effects of Ca concentration on fruiting of one Virginia cv. ‘Virginia Bunch 1’ and one Spanish peanut cv. ‘TMV-2’. Plants were grown in complete nutrient solution (root zone) containing 100 μM Ca, and six treatments imposed in which the pod zone solution Ca was controlled at 0 to 2500 μM. ‘TMV-2’ produced some mature seeds with no Ca added to the pod zone solution and 81% of maximum seed dry matter at 5 μM Ca, a concentration at which its pod dry matter production was close to maximum. In contrast, ‘Virginia Bunch 1’ produced no pods with no Ca added to the pod zone and only 28% of maximum pod dry matter at 5 μM Ca. ‘TMV-2’ required 6 and 21 μM Ca in the pod zone solution for 95% of maximum pod and seed production, respectively. The corresponding solution concentrations for ‘Virginia Bunch 1’ were 35 and 50 μM Ca. The seed dry matter production of ‘Virginia Bunch 1’ decreased with ≥112 μM Ca in the pod zone solution due to a decrease in individual seed mass, but there was no depression in the case of ‘TMV-2’ up to the highest pod zone solution concentration of 2500 μM Ca studied. The Ca concentration in pod walls and seeds of both cultivars increased with increase in Ca up to 500 μM in the pod zone, the effect being greater in ‘TMV-2’. However, the seed production of both cultivars was maximized at approximately the same seed Ca concentration of 0.04%. The results of this study have shown that the Spanish peanut cv. ‘TMV-2’ and the Virginia peanut cv. ‘Virginia Bunch 1’ have a similar tissue Ca requirement for seed growth despite the higher pod zone Ca requirement of ‘Virginia Bunch 1’.