The effect of aluminum exposure on root respiration in an aluminum-sensitive and an aluminum-tolerant cultivar of Triticum aestivum

The effects of aluminum (Al) exposure on intact root respiration of an Al-sensitive (Scout-66) and an Al-tolerant (Atlas-66) cultivar of Triticum aestivum were investigated. Exposure to a wide range of Al concentrations (0–900 μmol) for 4 days stimulated respiration along the energy-conserving cytochrome pathway in both cultivars and increased the ratio of maintenance respiration to growth respiration. The maximum rate of Scout-66 root respiration occurred after exposure to 100–200 μmol Al. Atlas-66 root respiration peaked after exposure to 300–400 μmol Al. Similarly, calculations of theoretical adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) production indicated that maximum daily rate of ATP production also increased upon exposure to Al in both cultivars, with peak ATP production occurring during peak respiration. Maximum root respiration rates in both cultivars were related to the Al concentration that inhibited root growth. Temporal exposure to 200 μmol Al quickly stopped root growth and stimulated cytochrome pathway respiration in Scout-66 after 4 days. Atlas-66 root growth and respiration were unaffected by 200 μmol Al. These results suggest that Al exposure imposes a demand for additional metabolic energy. A model describing Al effects on root respiration is presented