Aluminum Tolerance of Spring Rye Inbred Lines1

Abstract

Three hundred seventeen spring rye (Secale cereale L.) inbred lines, 15 cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and three lines of triticale (✕ trlticosecale Wittmack) were tested for Al tolerance. The seedlings were grown in solution‐paper medium and the roots were exposed for 48 hours to Al at different concentrations. The ability of roots to regrow after Al treatment was assessed. Approximately 75% of the rye lines tested showed root regrowth after exposure to Al concentrations of at least 30 ppm. The irreversible inhibition of root growth at a particular level of Al concentration in nutrient solution was associated with a significant increase in Al concentration in roots. The more tolerant rye lines were able to tolerate a significantly higher concentration of Al in their roots than those less tolerant. Variability in the reaction to Al was found within some inbred rye lines even though thye were S5 to S8 inbreds. No rye lines showed a greater tolerance to Al than the most tolerant wheat cultivars. Alumininm concentration in roots of tolerant wheat cultivars was lower than in rye lines. Two of the three triticale lines tested were highly tolerant to Al. The screening method is suitable for selecting homozygous tolerant lines.