Aluminum lightens the adverse effects of excessive Mn on growth of soybean (Glycine max)]

The influence of aluminum (Al) on physiological and biological characteristics of soybean under manganese (Mn) stress was investigated. The results showed that Al suppressed the transport of Mn to shoots (Fig.2B, C), and subsequently alleviated the inhibition of shoot growth (Fig.1), decreased the chlorophyll content (Fig.4). Addition of Al diminished the increase in O(-*)(2) producing rate, the hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) content and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in soybean leaves caused by excessive Mn (Fig.5), and prevented the dropping of CAT activity to a low level under excessive Mn stress (Fig.6). Results of fractional analysis indicated that high levels of Al supply deduced mainly accumulation of Mn both in cell walls and organelles, but had no effect on it in soluble fractions (Fig.3).