Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modelling of the dynamics of Al and protons in the rhizosphere of maize cultivated in acid substrate

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The object of this study was to analyze the dynamics of Al and protons in the rhizosphere of maize cultivated in a simple acid substrate, so as to allow the use of a dynamic model of the functioning of a rhizosphere consisting of an organic phase (an agarose gel) and a mineral phase (an amorphous aluminium hydroxide). Two cultivars of maize (Zea mays L.), one Al-sensitive and the other Al-tolerant, were cultivated on this substrate in the presence of different proportions of NH +4 and NO -3 , which served to acidify the rhizosphere to a greater or lesser extent. The state of the agarose gel and of the cell walls of the roots were monitored using an ion exchange model which had previously been calibrated for each substrate.

The experiment showed that Al and protons reduce root growth and the Ca and Mg content in the root, while relative growth varies little between pH 4.0 and pH 4.5. The model showed that competition between Al and protons for the binding sites of the cell walls might account for these results. The sensitivity of the model to the rate of Al(OH)3 dissolution and to the cation exchange capacity of the culture substrate was tested by numerical simulation. When roots release protons and dissolve Al(OH)3 in the rhizosphere, there is little possibility of Al desorption by protons on the cell walls at pHs compatible with good root growth of maize, plant specie sensitive to Al and H. Furthermore, the phytotoxicity of the different forms of Al hydroxides should be considered only in taking into account the dynamics of the whole system, in particular the solubilisation of Al in the rhizosphere.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akeson M A, Munns D N and Burau R G 1989 Adsorption of Al3C to phosphatidylcholine vesicles. Biochemica et Biophysica Acta 986, 33–40.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alva A K and Sumner M E 1990 Effect of concentration of supporting solution in soil solution aluminium in variable charge soil. Soil Science 150, 622–629.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anoua M, Jaillard B, Ruiz T, Bénet J C and Cousin B 1997 Couplage entre transfert de matière et réactions chimiques dans un sol. Partie 2: Application à la modélisation des transferts de matière dans la rhizosphère. Entropie 207, 13–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruggenwert M G M, Hiemstra T and Bolt G H 1991 Proton Sink in Soil Controlling Soil Acidification. In Soil acidity. Eds B Ulrich and M E Sumner. Springer Verlag.

  • Calba H, Jaillard B, Fallavier P and Arvieu J C 1996 Agarose as a suitable substrate for use in the study of Al dynamics in the rhizosphere. Plant Soil 178, 67–74.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calba H and Jaillard B 1997 Effect of aluminium on the ion uptake and HC release by maize. New Phytologist 137, 607–616.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canny M J 1995 Apoplastic water and solute movement: new rules for an old space. Annu. Rev. Plant Physio., Plant Mol. Biol. 46, 216–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark R B 1983 Plant genotype differences in the uptake, translocation, accumulation and use of mineral required for plant growth. Plant Soil 72, 175–196.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delhaize E, Craig S, Beaton C D, Bennet R J, Jagadish V C, Randall P J 1993 Uptake and distribution of aluminium in root apices. Plant Physiol. 103, 685–693.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dufey J E and Braun R 1986 Cation exchange capacity of roots: titration, sum of exchangeable cations, copper adsorption. J. Plant Nutr. 9(8), 1147–1155.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Foy C D 1988 Plant adaptation to acid, aluminium-toxic soils. Commun in Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 19(7–12), 959–987.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gahoonia T S 1993 Influence of root-induced pH on the solubility of soil aluminium in the rhizosphere. Plant Soil 149, 289–291.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Genon J 1998 Modelling base cation exchange with an intrinsic dissociation constants model. Thesis, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. 126 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grignon C and Sentenac H 1991 pH and ionic conditions in the apoplast. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 42, 103–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg S 1995 Adsorption Models Incorporated into Chemical Equilibrium Models. In Chemical Equilibrium and Reaction Models, SSSA special, Pub. 42. Madison WI 53711, USA.

  • Haynes R J 1990 Active ion uptake and maintenance of cationanion balance. A critical examination of their role in regulating rhizosphere pH. Plant Soil 126, 247–264.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hinsinger P and Jaillard B 1990 Simulating a macroscopic rhizosphere for measuring potassium depletion in the close vicinity of rape roots. Symbiosis 9, 77–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinsinger P, Jaillard B and Dufey J E 1992 Rapid weathering of a trioctahedral mica by the roots of ryegrass. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 56, 977–982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horst W J, Wagner A and Marschner H 1982 Mucilage protects root meristems from aluminium injury. Z Pflanzenphysiol bd 105, 435–444.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horst W J, Asher C J, Cakmak J, Szulkiewicz P and Wissemeier A H 1992 Short term response of soybean roots to aluminium. J. Plant Physiol. 140, 174–178.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horst W J 1995 The role of apoplast in aluminium toxicity and resistance of higher plants: a review. Z. Pflanzener. Bodenk. 158, 419–428.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang P M 1988 Ionic factors affecting Aluminium transformations and the impact on soil and environmental sciences. Advances in Soil Science, 8, 1–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones D L and Kochian L V 1996 Aluminium-organic acid interactions in acid soils. I. Effect of root-derived organic acids on the kinetics of Al dissolution. Plant Soil 182, 221–228.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kinraide T B and Parker D R 1990 Apparant phytotoxicity of mononuclear hydroxy-aluminium to four dicotyledenous species. Physiol. Plant. 79, 283–88.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kinraide T B 1991 Identity of the rhizotoxic aluminium species. In Plant and Soil Interaction at Low pH. Eds R J Wright, V C Baligar and R P Murrmann. pp 717–728. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

  • Kinraide T B 1994 Use of Gouy-Chapman-Stern model for membrane-surface electrical potentiel to interpret some features of mineral rhizotoxicity. Plant Physiol. 106, 1583–1592.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kinraide T B 1997 Reconsidering the rhizotoxicity of hydroxyl, sulphate, and fluoride complexes of aluminium. J. Exper. Bot. 48, 115–1124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinraide T B, Ryan P R and Kochian L V 1992 Interactive effect of Al3C, HC, and other cations on root elongation considered in terms of cell-surface electrical potential. Plant Physiology 99, 1461–1468.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kochian L V 1995. Cellular mechanisms of aluminium toxicity and resistance in plant. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. Mol. Biol. 46, 237–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lazof D B, Rincon M, Rufty T W, Mackown C and Carter T 1994 Aluminium accumulation and associated effects on 15NO3 (in-flux in roots of two soybean genotypes differing in Al tolerance. Plant Soil 164, 291–297.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lumsdon D G and Evans L J 1995 Predicting chemical speciation and computer simulation. In Chemical speciation in the environment. Eds A M Ure and C M Davidson. Blackie Academic & Professional. 408 p.

  • Masion A and Bertsch P M 1997 Aluminium speciation in the presence of wheat root cell walls: a wet chemical study. Plant Cell Environ. 20, 504–512.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H 1991 Mechanism of adaptation of plant to acid soils. Plant Soil 134, 1–20.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pintro J, Barloy J and Fallavier P 1998 Uptake of aluminium by the root tips of an Al-sensitive and Al-tolerant cultivar of Zea mays. Plant Physiol. Biochem. 36(6), 463–467.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen H P 1968 Entry and distribution of aluminium in Zea Mays. Planta (Berl.), 28–37.

  • Rengel Z and Robinson D L 1989 Aluminium and plant age effects on adsorption of cations in the Donnan free space of ryegrass roots. Plant Soil 116, 223–227.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie G S P 1995 Soluble aluminium in acidic soils: Principles and practicalities. Plant Soil 171, 17–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz T, Anoua M, Bénet J C, Jaillard B, Cousin B and Mignard E 1997 Couplages entre transferts de matière et réactions chimiques dans un sol. I. Modélisation mathématique. Entropie 207, 3–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sentenac H 1988 Relation structure-fonction dans la racine: effet du squelette pariétal sur les transports membranaires. Thèse, Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, Montpellier. 173 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sentenac H and Grignon C 1981 A model for predicting ionic equilibrium concentrations in cell walls. Plant Physiol. 68, 415–419.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sposito G 1981 The thermodynamics of soil solutions. Oxford Clarenton Press.

  • Sposito G and Coves J 1988 Soilchem: A computer program for the calculation of chemichal speciation. Univ. of California Riverside and Berkeley, the Kearney Foundation of Soil Sciences Univ. of California.

  • Wagatsuma T and Yamasaku K 1985 Relationship between differential aluminium tolerance and plant-induced pH of medium among barley cultivars. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 31, 521–535.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, AMIS Programme Agronomie, 2477 Avenue du Val de Montferrand, 34032, Montpellier cedex 1, France

    Henri Calba & Patrick Cazevieille

  2. Laboratoire de Science du Sol, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Place Pierre Viala, 34060, Montpellier cedex 2, France

    Benoît Jaillard

Authors
  1. Henri Calba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Patrick Cazevieille
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Benoît Jaillard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Calba, H., Cazevieille, P. & Jaillard, B. Modelling of the dynamics of Al and protons in the rhizosphere of maize cultivated in acid substrate. Plant and Soil 209, 57–69 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004515815446

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004515815446

Search

Navigation