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Influence of aluminum at low pH on the rhizosphere processes of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb)

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Abstract

Trees in general are very tolerant of aluminum (Al, mainly Al3+ at pH ≦ 5.0), and the small effects seen in the contaminated soils may mislead people that the contamination is unimportant. The key point of this study was to characterize the Al toxicity for Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb). The objectives were to discover the specific eco-physiological relationship between pine root growth and rhizosphere Al, and to investigate the Al effects on the root-released compounds of sugars, organic acids, amino acids, secondary metabolites, as well as rhizosphere pH and endogenous hormones. Masson pine seedlings were cultivated on a hydroponic setup. Through comprehensive dose-gradient experiments, the Al-triggered root-released compounds were determined by chromatography or spectroscopy. This study gives an important evidence of the Al-toxicity effects on the composition of root-released compounds and the root growth of Masson pine. Results showed that higher rhizospheric Al at pH 4.5 might contribute to increased release of glucose, and also could accelerate the release of oxalic acid and malic acid. The total of secreted amino acids were correlated with the rhizosphere Al. Zero additional Al induced no rhizosphere pH elevation, but Al-induced rhizosphere acidification (pH from 4.50 to 4.22) was observed et al. 100 µM. Greater additions of Al (> 300 µM) suppressed the rhizosphere acidification at pH 3.92. Added Al had a negative effect on the dry weight of pine roots, but an opposite effect on Al accumulated in the roots was observed. Four endogenous hormones were also determined in the pine roots. Gibberellic acid (GA3) decreased, whereas abscisic acid (ABA) simultaneously increased with the addition of Al. Their inflexional concentrations were most frequently observed et al. 100 µM, which might be the threshold of Al toxicity for Masson pine. The secondary metabolites assayed have been studied in relation to the rhizospheric Al. The rhizosphere Al species at low pH could trigger pine roots to release the sugars (glucose, fructose + aldose), organic acids (oxalic acid, and malic acid), amino acids, secondary metabolites, and endogenous hormones. Meanwhile exposure of growing root apices to toxic Al concentrations inhibited the growth of pine roots. This is an extensive study, which can help understanding the toxicity of Al to this important pioneer species of acid forest soils in south China.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (30771696; 31270680). We thank the many graduate students for their assistance with this work.

Funding

The funded was provided Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant No. (30771696). Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Commission (CN), Grant No (31270680).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People’s Republic of China

    Ping Wang, Sijie Zhou, Ao Li & Linbei Xie

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  1. Ping Wang
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  2. Sijie Zhou
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  4. Linbei Xie
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Correspondence to Ping Wang.

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Communicated by Feibo Wu.

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Wang, P., Zhou, S., Li, A. et al. Influence of aluminum at low pH on the rhizosphere processes of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb). Plant Growth Regul 97, 499–510 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-022-00816-x

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