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A split-root experiment shows that translocated phosphorus does not alleviate aluminium toxicity within plant tissue

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Abstract

Background and aims

My previous experimental findings suggested that phosphorus (P) enhances aluminium (Al) tolerance in both Al-tolerant and Al-sensitive wheat seedlings. However, the role of P in the amelioration of Al toxicity within plant tissue is still unclear. Therefore, a soil culture horizontal split-root system was used to quantify whether or not translocated P alleviates Al toxicity within the plant tissue.

Methods

Different level of Al and P were added in two compartments in various combinations for separate root halves. Constrasting Al-tolerant (ET8) and Al-sensitive (ES8) wheat genotypes were used as a testing plant.

Results

The limitation of root growth was independent to Al-toxicity in one root half. However, root proliferation occurred as a compensatory growth on the other root half that has no Al-toxicity. Where half of the roots were given 60 mg P/kg, plant did not translocated P in the other part of the root system that grown in Al toxic soil. When 40 mg P/kg were mixed with 60 mg AlCl3/kg within one root half combinations, root dry weight of both ET8 and ES8 increased markedly in that root half. In contrast, root dry weight of both ET8 and ES8 decreased noticeably only 60 mg AlCl3/kg treated root half. The shoot P and Al uptake in both ET8 and ES8 was lower in combined 40 mg P/kg and 60 mg AlCl3/kg addition as compared to other combination with same P and Al level.

Conclusions

Result from this study confirm that addition of P to Al toxic acid soil played dual role like amelioration of Al-toxicity in soil and utilize P as nutrition for plant growth and development. Findings also attributed that added P was reduced by precipitation with added Al. However, evidence found that translocated P was not able to alleviate Al toxicity within plant tissue of both ES8 and ET8.

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Acknowledgement

The author is thankful to Australian government and La Trobe University to provide International Post-graduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) and La Trobe University Post-graduate Research Scholarships (LTUPRS) for this study. The author also grateful to Professor Ismail Cakmak to provide financial support for presenting this research at 17th International Plant Nutrition Colloquium (IPNC 2013), Istanbul, Turkey. Finally, the author thanks to Dr. Mark Conyers, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, Australia for providing the ET8 and ES8 seed.

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  1. Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh

    Toufiq Iqbal

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Iqbal, T. A split-root experiment shows that translocated phosphorus does not alleviate aluminium toxicity within plant tissue. Plant Soil 384, 21–36 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1962-z

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