SREL Reprint #2171

Aluminium speciation in the presence of wheat root cell walls: a wet chemical study

A. Masion and P. M. Bertsch

Division of Biogeochemistry, University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Drawer E, Aiken SC 29802, USA

Abstract: Hydrolysis of Al3+, was performed in the presence of isolated root cell walls from a series of wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) known to have differential tolerance to Al contamination. Aluminium speciation was dependent on the cell wall concentration. At low cell wall concentrations, significant amounts of the very toxic Al13 species were formed. At higher cell wall concentrations, formation of the tridecamer was hindered or completely inhibited. The sensitive wheat cultivars displayed a higher affinity for aluminium than the tolerant cultivars. A possible Al tolerance mechanism based on cell wall permeability is discussed.

Keywords: wheat (Triticum aestivum L.); Al speciation; Al tolerance; cell wall; ferron

SREL Reprint #2171

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

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).