Differential response of two taro cultivars to aluminum: I. Plant growth

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is one of the major factors limiting plant growth in acid soils. To determine the response of taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] to Al‐toxicity, cultivars (cv.) Lehua maoli and Bun long were grown in hydroponic solution at six initial levels of Al (0, 110, 220, 440, 890, and 1330 uM Al). Increasing Al levels significantly depressed fresh and dry weights of taro leaf blades, petioles, and roots, as well as leaf areas and root lengths. No significant cultivar differences were found for plant dry weights. However, significant cultivar differences were found for expansion growth parameters, with cv. Lehua maoli exhibiting greater leaf fresh weights and root lengths in the presence of Al, compared to cv. Bun long. Apparently, differential response of taro cultivars to Al is related to the ability of the Al‐tolerant cultivar to maintain water uptake and cell expansion in the presence of Al. The initial solution Al level that resulted in the greatest separation of growth differences between taro cultivars in their response to Al was 890 μM Al.