Volume 11, Issue 1 (10-2011)
Abstract
Aluminum toxicity is one of the most important limiting factors for plant growth and development in acidic soil (pH <5.5). Soil acidity and consequently availability of Al in the soil can be accelerated by some farming practices and acid rain. The mechanisms of Aluminum toxicity have not been elucidated yet. The first response of the plant to aluminium toxicity is the inhibition of root elongation, that is apparently resulted from increasing of cell wall cross links. Therefore, the effect of aluminium on activity and gene expression of enzymes involved in phenolic compounds biosynthesis such as phenylalanine ammonialyase and peroxidase was investigated in this research.To this end, the flax seeds grown in Hoagland’s solution were treated with 0, 50 and 100 &muM aluminium (as AlCl3. 6H2O). The results showed that aluminium decreased root growth but increased wall bound phenolics content, compared with those of the control plants. Increase of the activity of peroxidase especially in ionically and covalently fractions in Al-treated roots was consisted with reducing root growth. Increased activity, PAL expression and lignin contents were observed in higher concentrations of aluminum. The investigation of the expression of peroxidase isozymes, Flxper1 and Flxper3 suggested that Flxper3 is the isozyme which is more involved in aluminium toxicity in flax roots.
