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The effect of chromium and aluminum on growth, root morphology, photosynthetic parameters and transpiration of the two barley cultivars

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Biologia Plantarum

Abstract

The effect of aluminum and chromium on two barley genotypes differing in Al tolerance was studied in a hydroponic experiment. Al stress decreased plant growth, biomass production, chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency determined as variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence ratio (Fv/Fm), net photosynthetic rate (PN), intercellular CO2 concentration (ci), stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration rate (E) less in an Al-tolerant genotype Gebeina than in an Al-sensitive genotype Shang 70–119. Cr stress also caused marked reduction in growth and photosynthetic traits in barley plants. Higher reduction was observed at pH 4.0 as compared to pH 6.5. Combined stress of Cr and Al, caused further reduction in growth and photosynthetic parameters.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

chlorophyll

ci :

intercellular CO2 concentration

E:

transpiration rate

Fm :

maximum fluorescence

Fv :

variable fluorescence

gs :

stomatal conductance

PN :

net photosynthetic rate

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Acknowledgements

The project was supported by Ministry of Agriculture, China (N20070331-01) and Ministry of Science and Technology, China (2006BAD02B04-3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Huajiachi Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, P.R. China

    S. Ali, F. Zeng, L. Qiu & G. Zhang

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  1. S. Ali
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  2. F. Zeng
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  3. L. Qiu
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  4. G. Zhang
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Correspondence to G. Zhang.

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Ali, S., Zeng, F., Qiu, L. et al. The effect of chromium and aluminum on growth, root morphology, photosynthetic parameters and transpiration of the two barley cultivars. Biol Plant 55, 291–296 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-011-0041-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-011-0041-7

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