Cellular Toxicity of Aluminum in Root Tips of <i>Vicia faba</i> L.

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) is the most common metal and the third most abundant element in the earth's crust [1]. It has been reported that Al is nonessential for plants, and its toxicity is a major growth-limiting factor for plants in acid soils [2]. Al forms harmless oxides and silicates and is not toxic on plants at neutral pH. However, it is, at low pH, present as a trivalent cation (Al 3+) that is toxic to animals, plants, and microbes [3]. It has been known for a long time that Al is the most important soil constraint for plant growth and development in acidic soils. Due to its importance in limiting agricultural and forest productivity, there have been many reports that describe the toxic effects of Al on plant root growth and physiology [4-7].

Sensitivity of Chinese Hickory to Soil Acidification and Important Plant Metabolites in Response to Soil Acidification

“…It is speculated that part of the reason is that different forms of active Al dissolved from acidic soil block the cation channel. The lower Ca and Mg concentrations in plant tissues in the presence of Al were due to the fact that the two ions compete for binding to Al and participate in the ion channel active sites during absorption [19,20].…”