Progress on Molecular Mechanism of Aluminum Resistance in Rice

Aluminum(Al)toxicity in acid soils is a significant limitation to crop production worldwide,as 13%of the world's rice is produced in acid soil with high Al content.Rice is likely the most Al-resistant cereal and also the cereal,where Al resistance is the most genetically complex with external detoxification and internal tolerance.Many Al-resistance genes in rice have been cloned,including Al resistance transcription factor 1(ART1)and other transcription factors,organic acid transporter genes,and metal ion transporter gene.This review summarized the recent characterized genes affecting Al tolerance in rice and the interrelationships between Al and other plant nutrients.

High aluminum concentration and initial establishment of Handroanthus impetiginosus : clues about an Al non-resistant species in Brazilian Cerrado

Cerrado soils are acidic and nutrient-poor,with high content of solubilized Al 3+.Plants growing in these conditions may display adaptations to cope with high aluminum concentrations especially during early developmental stages.We investigated leaf nutritional status,and photosynthetic and growth characteristics during the initial establishment of Handroanthus impetiginosus(Mart.Ex Dc.)Mattos,a secondary tree species distributed in the Brazilian Cerrado.Our goal was to understand leaf-level traits related to diff erent aluminum concentrations.H.impetiginosus plants were cultivated in four diff erent aluminum sulfate concentrations:0,1,2,and 4 mM Al,for 40 days.We performed analyses of growth,leaf gas exchange,chloroplast pigment content,and leaf mineral nutrients.We observed a linear increase of Al leaf content as a function of Al concentration in the nutrient solution.Plants grown in 1 mM Al showed a remarkable increase of K leaf content,net photosynthesis,stomatal conductance,and transpiration,while in 4 mM Al there were reductions of N,P,and K contents,gas exchange characteristics,and height.H.impetiginosus did not have mechanisms of avoidance,compartmentalization,or resistance to high Al concentrations.Indeed,this species showed a hormetic response,with low Al concentrations stimulating and high Al concentrations inhibiting plant responses.

Organic acid anions:An effective defensive weapon for plants against aluminum toxicity and phosphorus deficiency in acidic soils

Aluminum （AI） toxicity and phosphorous （P） deficiency are two major limiting factors for plant growth on acidic soils. Thus, the physiological mechanisms for AJ tolerance and P acquisition have been intensively studied. A commonly observed trait is that plants have developed the ability to utilize organic acid anions （OAs; mainly malate, citrate and oxalate） to combat AI toxicity and P deficiency. OAs secreted by roots into the rhizosphere can externally chelate Al^3＋ and mobilize phosphate （Pi）, while OAs synthesized in the cell can internally sequester Al^3＋ into the vacuole and release free Pi for metabolism. Molecular mechanisms involved in OA synthesis and transport have been described in detail. Ensuing genetic improvement for AI tolerance and P efficiency through increased OA exudation and/or synthesis in crops has been achieved by transgenic and marker-assisted breeding. This review mainly elucidates the crucial roles of OAs in plant Al tolerance and P efficiency through summarizing associated physiological mechanisms, molecular traits and genetic manipulation of crops.