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Theoretical and experimental assessment of nutrient solution composition in short-term studies of aluminium rhizotoxicity

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Abstract

Background and Aims

Many recent studies examining aluminum (Al) toxicity have failed to consider its complex chemistry, thereby leading to erroneous results.

Methods

Using modelling and experimental approaches, we focussed on the key effects of pH, P, and ionic strength on Al in nutrient solutions and resultant root elongation rate (RER) of soybean (Glycine max).

Results

A review of the literature showed that the composition of nutrient solutions (ionic strength =3 to 26 mM) in many studies differs markedly from solutions (mean ionic strength =5 mM) extracted from acid soils. Nutrient solutions should have a pH ≤ 4.5 to ensure that Al remains soluble and that the toxic Al3+ ion is the dominant species. Solutions should contain ≤5 μM P to ensure that Al is not precipitated and should have an ionic strength of < ca. 5 mM. Finally, we have shown that soybean RER is more closely related to the activity of Al3+ at the outer surface of the root-cell plasma membrane than its activity in the bulk solution.

Conclusions

This study has highlighted the crucial consideration of the kinetic and thermodynamic chemistry of Al in experiments designed to study the rhizotoxic effects of Al.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship (FT120100277 to P.M.K.)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Peter M. Kopittke & F. Pax C. Blamey

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  1. Peter M. Kopittke
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  2. F. Pax C. Blamey
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Correspondence to Peter M. Kopittke.

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Responsible Editor: Juan Barcelo.

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Kopittke, P.M., Blamey, F.P.C. Theoretical and experimental assessment of nutrient solution composition in short-term studies of aluminium rhizotoxicity. Plant Soil 406, 311–326 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-2890-5

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