Combined Effect of Short-Term Water Deficit Stress and Aluminum Toxicity on Citrate Secretion from Soybean Roots

Abstract

In order to investigate the combined effect of drought stress and aluminum (Al) toxicity on citrate exudation in soybean, hydroponic cultivation with addition of Al and PEG-6000 was conducted to simulate Al-toxic dry soil. Results showed that 2-day exposure of soybeans to 5.5% (w/v) PEG-6000 or 100 µM AlCl3 mainly hindered root growth, while combined exposure to PEG and Al (PEG/Al) reduced both root and shoot growth. Photosynthetic rate of first trifoliolate for the Al-tolerant genotype PI 416937 (PI) was not affected by imposition of 5.5% PEG/100 µM AlCl3 (38–40 h), whereas photosynthetic rate for the Al-sensitive genotype YC was significantly reduced. Based on root fresh weight, Al-induced citrate exudation in the roots of soybean genotypes recovered from pre-treatment with 5.5 or 9% PEG was not altered, but was increased in the plants pretreated with 7% PEG without recovery. After 2 days of recovery from 2-day combined exposure to 5.5% PEG/100 µM AlCl3, the Al-tolerant PI exuded more citrate than its control, but the Al-sensitive YC exuded significantly less citrate than its corresponding control. Split root experiment revealed that Al-induced citrate exudation in one half of the root system was significantly reduced by exposing the other half of the root system to 0.5 mM CaCl2 solution containing 9% PEG or 9% PEG/50 µM AlCl3. However, organic acid secretion was not observed in the half of the root system in the Ca solution when the other part of the root system was exposed to the Ca solution containing 50 µM AlCl3, 9% PEG or 9% PEG/50 µM AlCl3. This suggests that no Al- or drought-induced signals such as ABA are involved in the citrate secretion in soybean.