Empirical models to approximate calcium and magnesium ameliorative effects and genetic differences in aluminium tolerance in wheat

Abstract

The activities of inorganic, monomeric aluminium (Al) species in the root environment are important in the toxicity of Al to plant roots, which may be ameliorated by increased activities of basic cations. Additionally, it has been suggested that electro-chemical processes in walls of root cells play a role in Al tolerance. Empirical models were proposed to accomodate genetic and calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) ameliorative effects on Al toxicity. The models were tested using data from a solution culture study (with ionic strength 1.6 to 8.6 mM) in which wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cvv. Warigal (Al-sensitive) and Waalt (Al-tolerant) were grown for 28 d at 0, 10 and 20 μM Al, in factorial combination with 200, 400, 800 and 1600 μM Ca and 100, 200, 400 and 800 μM Mg. There was a poor relationship between relative total dry mass (TDM) (calculated as a percentage of the average TDM of each cultivar in the absence of added Al) and the activity of Al3+ or the sum of the activities of the monomeric Al species in solution. A model based on the ratios of activities of cations in solution, taking valency into consideration, was more successful, accounting for ca 85% of the observed variation in relative TDM. There were no systematic variations between observed values and those estimated by the model.