富钾基因型籽粒苋主要根系分泌物及其对土壤矿物态钾的活化作用

通过试验,研究了2种供K水平对籽粒苋(Amaranthus spp.)富K基因型和一般基因型根系分泌物含量变化的影响,以及在低K胁迫时3个生长期两类基因型主要根系分泌物含量的变化特点,模拟了籽粒苋根系分泌物对土壤矿物态钾的活化作用.结果表明,籽粒苋根系分泌物中可溶性糖、氨基酸和有机酸含量随供K水平的升高而降低,且富K基因型根系分泌物中3种物质的分泌量始终大于一般基因型;在正常供K条件下,两基因型根系分泌能力相近,但在低K处理时,前者显著高于后者,差异显著;在2种供K水平下,根系有机酸分泌量在3种分泌物中占绝对优势,分别是可溶性糖和氨基酸分泌量的几十倍和几百倍.籽粒苋生长到50 d时,一般基因型根系可溶性糖、氨基酸和有机酸的分泌量较40 d时迅速降低.富K基因型根系分泌物中可溶性糖、氨基酸和有机酸含量在3个生长时期均大于一般基因型,且随着生长时间的延长,两基因型间可溶性糖、氨基酸和有机酸含量的差异明显增大.两类基因型在3个生长时期均以分泌有机酸为主,其占总分泌量的93%以上.籽粒苋根系分泌物处理后的土壤速效钾含量均高于清水对照处理,富K基因型在低K胁迫时的根系分泌物对土壤K的活化作用明显大于一般基因型.     

外源IAA增强丹波黑大豆抗铝性的生理机制

以铝耐受型丹波黑大豆(RB)幼苗为供试材料,考察了不同浓度铝胁迫下添加外源IAA对RB根尖内源IAA、H2O2、MDA、铝含量、柠檬酸分泌量以及质膜H+-ATPase活性的影响,探讨外源IAA增强RB抗铝能力的生理机制。结果显示:(1)经25、50和200μmol·L-1 AlCl3胁迫处理24h后,RB根尖IAA含量、柠檬酸分泌量和质膜H+-ATPase活性均表现为先上升后下降的趋势,而H2O2、MDA和根尖铝含量却随着铝处理浓度的增加呈显著上升趋势。(2)与单独25、50和200μmol·L-1 AlCl3胁迫处理相比,添加50μmol·L-1外源IAA后使得RB根尖铝、MDA和H2O2含量均显著降低,同时使RB根尖柠檬酸分泌量分别相应增加到单独处理的2.39、1.73和6.85倍,且其相应的质膜H+-ATPase活性也增加了1.09、1.74和1.45倍。研究表明,外源IAA能通过增强丹波黑大豆根尖柠檬酸的分泌量和质膜H+-ATPase活性来提高其对铝胁迫的抗性,明显缓解铝毒害作用。     

玉米幼苗根系分泌物对芘污染的响应

根际袋土培试验研究了玉米幼苗根系分泌物中的可溶性糖、低分子量有机酸和氨基酸对不同芘污染水平(50、200、800mgkg-1,记为T1、T2、T3)的响应差异,探讨芘胁迫下植物根系的生理生态效应。结果表明,较低浓度芘可适当地刺激玉米的生长,高浓度芘处理抑制了玉米的生长,并且抑制作用随芘处理浓度的提高而增强;芘对玉米根系的影响要大于对茎叶的影响。芘胁迫下促进了根系分泌可溶性糖、低分子量有机酸和氨基酸增多。T1、T2和T3处理根系分泌物中可溶性糖、低分子量有机酸、氨基酸含量分别是T0处理的1.14、1.81、1.35倍,1.24、4.31、2.94倍,1.58、5.56、5.40倍。不同芘污染水平下,乙酸分泌量表现为T2T3T1,酒石酸和柠檬酸分泌量表现为T3T2T1,草酸分泌量表现为T3≈T2T1。芘处理对根系分泌氨基酸种类的影响不大,而对各氨基酸分泌量的变化幅度影响较大;芘胁迫处理对于18种常见氨基酸组分的分泌量的影响各不相同。不同芘污染水平下,天门冬氨酸、丝氨酸和丙氨酸分泌量表现为T3T2T1,苏氨酸、谷氨酸、脯氨酸、甘氨酸、胱氨酸、缬氨酸、甲硫氨酸、异亮氨酸、亮氨酸、酪氨酸、苯丙氨酸、赖氨酸、组氨酸、γ-氨基丁酸、鸟氨酸分泌量表现为T2T3T1。     

柠檬酸对铝胁迫下大豆根系生长和生理特性的影响

以大豆(Glycine max L.)幼苗为材料,研究柠檬酸处理对铝胁迫下,大豆根系生长和生理特性的影响。结果表明:与对照(CK)相比,在铝胁迫下,大豆根系长度、根系鲜质量、超氧化歧化酶(SOD)活性和根系活力等分别降低58.2%、40.6%、33.2%和50.6%,丙二醛(MDA)含量和相对电导率分别增加50.7%和50.6%。与单纯铝胁迫处理相比,加入柠檬酸后,大豆幼苗根系长度、根系鲜质量、SOD活性和根系活力等分别比铝胁迫处理提高85.6%、34.4%、44.8%和81.3%,MDA含量和相对电导率分别比铝胁迫处理降低26.7%和30.3%。柠檬酸缓解根系长度的最佳处理浓度为15μmol/L,缓解其他指标的最佳浓度均为20μmol/L。柠檬酸可降低铝对大豆根系的损伤。     

外源α-萘乙酸对花期干旱大豆碳代谢的影响

以耐旱性大豆品种晋豆21和干旱敏感性大豆品种徐豆22为试验材料,通过盆栽试验,研究α-萘乙酸(NAA)对花期干旱大豆碳代谢的影响.结果表明:干旱胁迫下,与徐豆22相比,晋豆21净光合速率(P_n)下降幅度较小,光呼吸速率(Pr)和叶片可溶性糖含量增加幅度较小,而叶片蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)、蔗糖合成酶(SS)(合成方向)活性、根系蔗糖含量增加幅度较大.NAA处理提高了干旱胁迫下Pn,并降低了Pr,进而明显缓解了干旱胁迫对大豆植株的生长抑制;降低了叶片淀粉分解酶、酸性转化酶(AI)和SS(分解方向)活性,从而抑制了干旱胁迫诱导的可溶性糖积累;NAA处理也能增加干旱胁迫下叶片SPS、SS(合成方向)活性、根系蔗糖含量、根冠比,表明NAA处理促进了叶片中蔗糖向根系的转运.总之,在干旱胁迫下,外源NAA能够通过调控碳代谢增强大豆植株对干旱胁迫的耐受性.     

低磷和铝毒胁迫条件下菜豆有机酸的分泌与累积

以水培方式研究了低磷、铝毒胁迫条件下,不同菜豆基因型根系有机酸的分泌及其在植穆不同部位的累积,结果表明,低磷,铝毒胁迫诱导菜豆有机酸的分泌与累积存在显著的基因差异。低磷、铝毒胁迫诱导菜豆主要分泌柠檬酸、酒石酸和乙酸,其中,50μmol/LAl^3 诱导柠檬酸分泌量最高;低磷（小于20μmol/LH2PO4^－）胁迫诱导柠榨菜酸分泌量显著高于高磷处理,但低磷处理之间差异不明显,铝毒胁迫诱导菜豆有机酸的分泌与累积显著高于低磷胁迫处理,低磷,铝毒胁迫植株不同部位有机酸的含量为叶片大小根系,低磷,铝毒胁迫时,G842菜豆型柠檬酸有机酸分泌总量显著高于273、AFR和ZPV,其干重和磷吸收明明显于大G273,AFR和ZPV,且铝吸收量小于G273,AFR和ZPV,说明,G482菜豆基因型对低磷,铝毒的适应能力强于G273,AFR和ZPV基因型,菜豆有机酸,,尤其柠檬酸的分泌是其适应低磷、铝毒胁迫的重要生理反应。     

外源α-萘乙酸对花期干旱大豆碳代谢的影响

以耐旱性大豆品种晋豆21和干旱敏感性大豆品种徐豆22为试验材料,通过盆栽试验,研究α-萘乙酸(NAA)对花期干旱大豆碳代谢的影响.结果表明: 干旱胁迫下,与徐豆22相比,晋豆21净光合速率(P_n)下降幅度较小,光呼吸速率(P_r)和叶片可溶性糖含量增加幅度较小,而叶片蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)、蔗糖合成酶(SS)(合成方向)活性、根系蔗糖含量增加幅度较大.NAA处理提高了干旱胁迫下P_n,并降低了P_r,进而明显缓解了干旱胁迫对大豆植株的生长抑制;降低了叶片淀粉分解酶、酸性转化酶(AI)和SS(分解方向)活性,从而抑制了干旱胁迫诱导的可溶性糖积累;NAA处理也能增加干旱胁迫下叶片SPS、SS(合成方向)活性、根系蔗糖含量、根冠比,表明NAA处理促进了叶片中蔗糖向根系的转运.总之,在干旱胁迫下,外源NAA能够通过调控碳代谢增强大豆植株对干旱胁迫的耐受性.     

黑麦对难溶性磷酸盐的吸收及活化机制研究

以2个黑麦品种冬牧70和King为材料,研究了植物对难溶性磷酸盐的吸收及活化,以揭示植物抵御酸性土壤逆境的机制.结果显示,(1)在活性铝含量高的赤红壤中施用磷酸铝、磷酸铁、磷酸钙等难溶性磷酸盐后,植株的生物产量和磷的积累量分别增加了0.84~6.38倍和0.60~20.5倍,且施用难溶性磷酸盐后冬牧70的生物产量和磷的积累量的增加量明显高于King.(2)铝胁迫下2种黑麦根系分泌物中的阴离子组分均能溶解难溶性磷酸盐,而在中性或阳离子组分中的难溶性磷酸盐溶解不显著;HPLC图谱显示,阴离子组分中含有柠檬酸和苹果酸.(3)铝胁迫下根系有机酸分泌量随铝处理浓度(10、30、50μmol/L AlCl3)的增加而增加,而且在柠檬酸或苹果酸溶液中难溶性磷酸盐的溶解度显著增加,其溶解的磷随有机酸浓度的增加而增加.(4)黑麦冬牧70品种对难溶性磷酸盐的吸收、阴离子组分对难溶性磷酸盐的溶解及有机酸分泌作用均较King强.结果表明,在铝胁迫下根系分泌的有机酸是黑麦活化、吸收土壤中难溶性磷的有效机制.     

典型草原常见牧草春季萌动期可溶性糖及内源激素动态研究

在春季萌动期,分别对典型草原几种常见禾本科牧草老芒麦、披碱草、羊草、赖草和克氏针茅的幼芽和地下根系可溶性糖含量及内源激素动态变化规律进行研究.结果表明,高含量的GA和较低含量的ABA是根茎类禾草羊草和赖草春季萌动早的重要调控因子,而根系丰富的可溶性糖为根茎类禾草的萌动生长提供了物质基础;玉米素核苷动态变化趋势与根系可溶性糖含量动态相似,萌动初期呈下降趋势,4月底达到最低值,此后又逐渐上升;而内源激素IAA和GA的含量与牧草幼芽可溶性糖含量的变化趋势一致,均呈逐渐上升趋势;根茎类禾草羊草和赖草与须根系禾草老芒麦和披碱草之间幼芽的GA和ABA水平以及根系可溶性糖含量差异明显.     

铝毒胁迫诱导菜豆柠檬酸的分泌与累积

水培试验结果表明 ,铝毒诱导菜豆柠檬酸的分泌与累积存在着显著的基因型差异 .Al3 + 浓度 <5 0 μmol·L-1时 ,柠檬酸分泌量随Al3 + 浓度的增大而增加 ;Al3 + 浓度在 5 0～ 80 μmol·L-1时 ,柠檬酸分泌量随Al3 + 浓度的增大而减小 .不同菜豆基因型以G1984 2的柠檬酸分泌量最大 ,单位干重Al吸收量最小 .铝毒胁迫时 ,不同菜豆基因型叶片柠檬酸累积量无明显差异 ,根系柠檬酸累积量为G1984 2 >AFR >ZPV >G5 2 73.菜豆柠檬酸分泌量缺P处理 <铝毒胁迫 ,5 0 μmol·L-1LaCl3 不能诱导菜豆分泌柠檬酸 ,表明柠檬酸的分泌与累积是菜豆抗铝毒胁迫的重要生理反应     

褐飞虱为害对不同抗性水稻品种苗期根系几种营养物质和总酚含量的影响

本文以对褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens(St?l)具不同抗性水平的水稻品种为研究对象,通过在苗期接入不同密度褐飞虱后测定水稻根系可溶性糖、游离氨基酸、可溶性蛋白质和总酚变化情况,以明确水稻抗虫性与根系生理生化物质含量的关系.研究结果表明,根系中的可溶性糖除了苗龄8d不接虫的处理,其余处理均以感虫品种TN1含量最高,显著高于3个抗虫品种IR36、Rathu-Heenati(RHT)、Ptb33.各苗龄不同接虫密度TN1根系游离氨基酸及可溶性蛋白质含量均显著高于3个抗虫品种.各苗龄不同接虫密度TN1根系总酚含量均显著低于3个抗虫品种,以Ptb33总酚含量最高,各处理均显著高于IR36及RHT.结果可为进一步开发利用根系指标优良的抗性水稻品种提供科学依据.     

Differential aluminum tolerance in soybean: An evaluation of the role of organic acids

The role of organic acids in aluminum (Al) tolerance has been the object of intensive research. In the present work, we evaluated the roles of organic acid exudation and concentrations at the root tip on Al tolerance of soybean. Exposing soybean seedlings to Al³⁺ activities up to 4.7 μ M in solution led to different degrees of restriction of primary root elongation. Al tolerance among genotypes was associated with citrate accumulation and excretion into the external media. Citrate and malate efflux increased in all genotypes during the first 6 h of Al exposure, but only citrate efflux in Al-tolerant genotypes was sustained for an extended period. Tolerance to Al was correlated with the concentration of citrate in root tips of 8 genotypes with a range of Al sensitivities (r²=0.75). The fluorescent stain lumogallion indicated that more Al accumulated in root tips of the Al-sensitive genotype Young than the Al-tolerant genotype PI 416937, suggesting that the sustained release of citrate from roots of the tolerant genotype was involved in Al exclusion. The initial stimulation of citrate and malate excretion and accumulation in the tip of all genotypes suggested the involvement of additional tolerance mechanisms. The experiments included an examination of Al effects on lateral root elongation. Extension of lateral roots was more sensitive to Al than that of tap roots, and lateral root tips accumulated more Al and had lower levels of citrate.     

Effect of phosphorus deficiency on aluminium-induced citrate exudation in soybean (Glycine max)

Aluminium (Al) toxicity or phosphorus (P) deficiency can induce exudation of organic acids from the roots of some plants, which is believed to be a tolerance mechanism against Al toxicity or P deficiency. In the present study, the effect of P deficiency on Al-induced citrate exudation was investigated in three soybean varieties differing in low-P tolerance. P starvation alone failed to induce secretion of organic acids from all three soybean varieties. However, P deficiency altered Al-induced citrate exudation over time, showing a complex interaction. Short × term P starvation (4 days) produced up to 50% increase in Al-induced citrate secretion, while longer-term (10 days) starvation reduced Al-induced citrate secretion to trace amounts. However, after a further 1 day in complete nutrient solution for recovery, Al-induced citrate exudation from the recovered roots was approximately 6 times higher than that from the continuously P-starved plants, but still approximately 3.6 times lower than that from the P-sufficient control. With increasing P or Al supply, Al-induced citrate exudation increased, while Al accumulation in soybean roots decreased in parallel with the decrease of P supply. The photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration were decreased by P deficiency, whereas the intracellular CO₂ concentration was increased. These findings indicate that P nutrition has a significant effect on Al-induced citrate exudation and Al accumulation in soybean root apices.     

Response of rice (Oryza sativa) with root surface iron plaque under aluminium stress

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Rice (Oryza sativa) is an aquatic plant with a characteristic of forming iron plaque on its root surfaces. It is considered to be the most Al-tolerant species among the cereal crops. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of root surface iron plaque on Al translocation, accumulation and the change of physiological responses under Al stress in rice in the presence of iron plaque. METHODS: The japonica variety rice, Koshihikari, was used in this study and was grown hydroponically in a growth chamber. Iron plaque was induced by exposing the rice roots to 30 mg L(-1) ferrous iron either as Fe(II)-EDTA in nutrient solution (6 d, Method I) or as FeSO(4) in water solution (12 h, Method II). Organic acid in root exudates was retained in the anion-exchange resin and eluted with 2 m HCl, then analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after proper pre-treatment. Fe and Al in iron plaque were extracted with DCB (dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate) solution. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Both methods (I and II) could induce the formation of iron plaque on rice root surfaces. The amounts of DCB-extractable Fe and Al on root surfaces were much higher in the presence of iron plaque than in the absence of iron plaque. Al contents in root tips were significantly decreased with iron plaque; translocation of Al from roots to shoots was significantly reduced with iron plaque. Al-induced secretion of citrate was observed and iron plaque could greatly depress this citrate secretion. These results suggested that iron plaque on rice root surfaces can be a sink to sequester Al onto the root surfaces and Fe ions can pre-saturate Al-binding sites in root tips, which protects the rice root tips from suffering Al stress to a certain extent.     

Phosphorus and aluminum interactions in soybean in relation to aluminum tolerance. Exudation of specific organic acids from different regions of the intact root system

Aluminum (Al) toxicity and phosphorus (P) deficiency often coexist in acid soils that severely limit crop growth and production, including soybean (Glycine max). Understanding the physiological mechanisms relating to plant Al and P interactions should help facilitate the development of more Al-tolerant and/or P-efficient crops. In this study, both homogeneous and heterogeneous nutrient solution experiments were conducted to study the effects of Al and P interactions on soybean root growth and root organic acid exudation. In the homogenous solution experiments with a uniform Al and P distribution in the bulk solution, P addition significantly increased Al tolerance in four soybean genotypes differing in P efficiency. The two P-efficient genotypes appeared to be more Al tolerant than the two P-inefficient genotypes under these high-P conditions. Analysis of root exudates indicated Al toxicity induced citrate exudation, P deficiency triggered oxalate exudation, and malate release was induced by both treatments. To more closely mimic low-P acid soils where P deficiency and Al toxicity are often much greater in the lower soil horizons, a divided root chamber/nutrient solution approach was employed to impose elevated P conditions in the simulated upper soil horizon, and Al toxicity/P deficiency in the lower horizon. Under these conditions, we found that the two P-efficient genotypes were more Al tolerant during the early stages of the experiment than the P-inefficient lines. Although the same three organic acids were exuded by roots in the divided chamber experiments, their exudation patterns were different from those in the homogeneous solution system. The two P-efficient genotypes secreted more malate from the taproot tip, suggesting that improved P nutrition may enhance exudation of organic acids in the root regions dealing with the greatest Al toxicity, thus enhancing Al tolerance. These findings demonstrate that P efficiency may play a role in Al tolerance in soybean. Phosphorus-efficient genotypes may be able to enhance Al tolerance not only through direct Al-P interactions but also through indirect interactions associated with stimulated exudation of different Al-chelating organic acids in specific roots and root regions.     

干旱胁迫下接种丛枝菌根真菌对七子花非结构性碳水化合物积累及C、N、P化学计量特征的影响

以濒危植物七子花二年生幼苗为研究材料,采用盆栽试验方法,研究干旱胁迫和接种丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)处理对幼苗不同器官C、N、P化学计量关系和非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)含量的影响。试验共设计4个处理:对照(CK)、干旱胁迫(D)、接种AMF(AMF)、干旱胁迫和接种AMF(D+AMF)。结果表明: 在干旱胁迫下七子花根系AMF的侵染率显著下降,但接种AMF处理植株的株高、叶片数显著高于未接种处理。接种AMF显著提高了干旱胁迫下植株根、叶可溶性糖和NSC含量及茎、叶淀粉含量,且茎和叶可溶性糖与淀粉比显著下降。干旱胁迫导致植株C含量在根和叶中显著增加,P含量在茎中显著减少;与干旱胁迫相比,胁迫下接种AMF植株根、茎、叶P含量及叶C含量显著提高,而根C、N含量及茎C含量显著降低。胁迫下接种AMF植株根、茎C∶N、C∶P、N∶P和叶N∶P均显著低于单一胁迫处理。NSC与C∶N∶P计量比的相关性分析表明,根、叶P含量与可溶性糖和NSC含量呈显著正相关,茎P含量与淀粉和NSC含量呈显著正相关,各器官N∶P与NSC含量呈显著负相关。综上,干旱胁迫显著抑制了七子花幼苗的生长,接种AMF通过提高植株根和叶的可溶性糖含量、根的可溶性糖/淀粉,增加地上部分淀粉含量,促进P元素吸收和降低各器官N∶P来增强植株耐旱性,从而提高七子花幼苗在干旱环境中的存活率。     

The role of cell wall components from groundnut roots in solubilizing sparingly soluble phosphorus in low fertility soils

Groundnuts have a superior ability to take up P from soils with low P fertility compared to sorghum and soybean. Previous experiments showed that this ability was neither attributable to better root development nor to root exudates capable of solubilizing Fe- and Al-bound P, the sparingly soluble P forms in soils. Direct "contact reactions" between cell wall components from these 3 plant species (groundnut, soybean and sorghum) and P-fixing Fe and Al minerals were examined. Cell wall preparations from groundnut roots showed a superior P solubilizing ability than those of soybean and sorghum. Cell wall activity of groundnut roots may thus at least partly explain the superior growth of this crop under P-deficient conditions. To characterize the active site responsible for P solubilization, effects of pH, heat, addition of cations, and digestion with enzymes (pectinase and cellulase) or HCl on P solubilization were investigated. Conclusion are 1) Solubilizing ability is not related to root CEC because soybean with higher root CEC showed an inferior solubilizing ability compared to groundnut. 2) The reaction site of cell-walls of groundnut roots is stable against heating and digestion with cellulase and pectinase. 3) Solubilizing ability was severely reduced by digestion with HCl. 4) Pre-treating cell walls with either Al3+, Fe3+, or Ga3+ decreased solubilizing ability but cations with lower valency such as Na+, K+, Ca2+ or Mg2+ had no effect. Soaking roots of groundnuts grown in solution culture in 0.5 M NaOH for 30 seconds prior to cell wall preparation led to a 30% reduction in solubilization of P from FePO4 without permanently damaging plants. This suggests that 5) the active component of the cell walls was located on the root epidermal cell surfaces. Based on these results a phosphorus solubilizing mechanism is proposed.     

Citrate exudation from white lupin induced by phosphorus deficiency differs from that induced by aluminum

Both phosphorus (P) deficiency and aluminum (Al) toxicity induce root exudation of carboxylates, but the relationship between these two effects is not fully understood. Here, carboxylate exudation induced by Al in Lupinus albus (white lupin) was characterized and compared with that induced by P deficiency. Aluminum treatments were applied to whole root systems or selected root zones of plants with limited (1 microM) or sufficient (50 microM) P supply. Aluminum stimulated citrate efflux after 1-2 h; this response was not mimicked by a similar trivalent cation, La(3+). P deficiency triggered citrate release from mature cluster roots, whereas Al stimulated citrate exudation from the 5- to 10-mm subapical root zones of lateral roots and from mature and senescent cluster roots. Al-induced citrate exudation was inhibited by P limitation at the seedling stage, but was stimulated at later growth stages. Citrate exudation was sensitive to anion-channel blockers. Al treatments did not affect primary root elongation, but inhibited the elongation of lateral roots. The data demonstrate differential patterns of citrate exudation in L. albus, depending on root zone, developmental stage, P nutritional status and Al stress. These findings are discussed in terms of possible functions and underlying mechanisms.     

Magnesium enhances aluminum-induced citrate secretion in rice bean roots (Vigna umbellata) by restoring plasma membrane H+-ATPase activity

We demonstrated that magnesium (Mg) can alleviate aluminum (Al) toxicity in rice bean [Vigna umbellata (Thunb.) Ohwi & Ohashi] more effectively than is expected from a non-specific cation response. Micromolar concentrations of Mg alleviated the inhibition of root growth by Al but not by lanthanum, and neither strontium nor barium at the micromolar level alleviates Al toxicity. Aluminum also induced citrate efflux from rice bean roots, and this response was stimulated by inclusion of 10 microM Mg in the treatment solution. The increase in the Al-induced citrate efflux by Mg paralleled the improvement in root growth, suggesting that the ameliorative effect of Mg might be related to greater citrate efflux. Vanadate (an effective H+-ATPase inhibitor) decreased the Al-induced citrate efflux, while addition of Mg partly restored the efflux. Mg addition also increased the activity of Al-reduced plasma membrane H+-ATPase, as well as helping to maintain the Mg and calcium contents in root apices. We propose that the addition of Mg to the toxic Al treatment helps maintain the tissue Mg content and the activity of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase. These changes enhanced the Al-dependent efflux of citrate which provided extra protection from Al stress.