Alleviate Al Toxicity Research Articles

Morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic analyses indicate that cell wall properties and antioxidant processes are potential targets for improving the aluminium tolerance of broad beans

Aluminium (Al) stress is the second-leading abiotic stress on crops. An improved understanding of the response mechanisms of plants to Al stress will provide scientific guidance for enhancing the crops’ tolerance to Al stress. In this study, Al stress (50–200 μM AlCl3) caused visible damage to broad bean (Vicia faba L.) roots rather than shoots, which was attributed to Al accumulation and distribution in different tissues. Root transcriptomic analysis revealed that Al stress altered cell wall properties by downregulating lignin synthesis and several xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase-, expansin- and peroxidase (POD)-encoding genes, which likely weakened cell extensibility to inhibit root growth. Additionally, Al stress impeded reactive oxygen species scavenging pathways involving POD activity and flavonoid biosynthesis, leading to oxidative damage characterised by malondialdehyde accumulation. These results indicate that optimising cell wall properties and/or enhancing antioxidant processes are crucial for alleviating Al toxicity to broad beans. Interestingly, exogenous application (500 and 1000 μM) of the flavonoid apigenin effectively alleviated Al toxicity in broad bean roots by partially improving the total antioxidant capacity of the roots. This study contributes to understanding the interaction between plants and Al and provides new strategies to alleviate Al toxicity in crops.

Systematic Investigation of Aluminum Stress-Related Genes and Their Critical Roles in Plants.

Aluminum (Al) stress is a dominant obstacle for plant growth in acidic soil, which accounts for approximately 40-50% of the world's potential arable land. The identification and characterization of Al stress response (Al-SR) genes in Arabidopsis, rice, and other plants have deepened our understanding of Al's molecular mechanisms. However, as a crop sensitive to acidic soil, only eight Al-SR genes have been identified and functionally characterized in maize. In this review, we summarize the Al-SR genes in plants, including their classifications, subcellular localizations, expression organs, functions, and primarily molecular regulatory networks. Moreover, we predict 166 putative Al-SR genes in maize based on orthologue analyses, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the impact of Al stress on maize growth and development. Finally, we highlight the potential applications of alleviating Al toxicity in crop production. This review deepens our understanding of the Al response in plants and provides a blueprint for alleviating Al toxicity in crop production.

Zinc finger protein ZFP36 and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase PDK1 function in ABA-mediated aluminum tolerance in rice

Aluminum (Al) toxicity poses a significant constraint on field crop yields in acid soils. Zinc finger protein 36 (ZFP36) is well-documented for its pivotal role in enhancing tolerance to both drought and oxidative stress in rice. This study unveils a novel function of ZFP36 modulated by abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent mechanisms, specifically aimed at alleviating Al toxicity in rice. Under Al stress, the expression of ZFP36 significantly increased through an ABA-dependent pathway. Knocking down ZFP36 heightened Al sensitivity, while overexpressing ZFP36 conferred increased resistance to Al stress. Additionally, our investigations revealed a physical interaction between ZFP36 and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 in rice (OsPDK1). Biochemical assays further elucidated that OsPDK1 phosphorylates ZFP36 at the amino acid site 73–161. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that ZFP36 positively regulates the expression of ascorbate peroxidases (OsAPX1) and OsALS1 by binding to specific elements in their upstream segments in rice. Through genetic and phenotypic analyses, we unveiled that OsPDK1 influences ABA-triggered antioxidant defense to alleviate Al toxicity by interacting with ZFP36. In summary, our study underscores that pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (OsPDK1) phosphorylates ZFP36 to modulate the activities of antioxidant enzymes via an ABA-dependent pathway, influencing tolerance of rice to soil Al toxicity.

Genome-wide analysis of the MATE gene family and expression analysis of subfamily III genes in response to aluminium toxicity in pineapple

ABSTRACT Pineapple has strong adaptability to acidic soil and has become a significant economic fruit crop in the tropics and subtropics. The multidrug and toxin compound extrusion (MATE) gene family plays crucial roles in plant growth, development and responses to adverse stresses, especially in acidic soils. In this study, forty-two AcMATE genes were identified and classified into six subfamilies based on phylogenetic analysis. The chromosomal distribution, physical characteristics, phylogenetic relationships, and gene and protein structures of pineapple MATE gene family members were systematically analysed. Our results showed that six AcMATE genes can be further clustered into subfamily III with similar conserved motifs and exon-intron patterns, and are unevenly distributed on four pineapple chromosomes. Citrate exuding motif (CEM) was present in all six AcMATE proteins of subfamily III. Finally, quantitative real-time PCR experiments indicated that subfamily III AcMATE genes were highly expressed in roots and distinctly upregulated under Al stresses. In conclusion, our study illustrated that the AcMATE genes of subfamily III may function as an Al-induced citrate transporter in alleviating Al toxicity to adapt acidic soil in pineapple.

Supplemental Silicon and Boron Alleviates Aluminum-Induced Oxidative Damage in Soybean Roots.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity in acidic soils is a major abiotic stress that negatively impacts plant growth and development. The toxic effects of Al manifest primarily in the root system, leading to inhibited root elongation and functionality, which impairs the above-ground organs of the plant. Recent research has greatly improved our understanding of the applications of small molecule compounds in alleviating Al toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the role of boron (B), silicon (Si), and their combination in alleviating Al toxicity in soybeans. The results revealed that the combined application significantly improved the biomass and length of soybean roots exposed to Al toxicity compared to B and Si treatments alone. Our results also indicated that Al toxicity causes programmed cell death (PCD) in soybean roots, while B, Si, and their combination all alleviated the PCD induced by Al toxicity. The oxidative damage induced by Al toxicity was noticeably alleviated, as evidenced by lower MAD and H2O2 accumulation in the soybean roots treated with the B and Si combination. Moreover, B, Si, and combined B and Si significantly enhanced plant antioxidant systems by up-regulating antioxidant enzymes including CAT, POD, APX, and SOD. Overall, supplementation with B, Si, and their combination was found to alleviate oxidative damage and reduce PCD caused by Al toxicity, which may be one of the mechanisms by which they alleviate root growth inhibition due to Al toxicity. Our results suggest that supplementation with B, Si, and their combination may be an effective strategy to improve soybean growth and productivity against Al toxicity.

Physiological and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals That Melatonin Alleviates Aluminum Toxicity in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is the most common factor limiting the growth of alfalfa in acidic soil conditions. Melatonin (MT), a significant pleiotropic molecule present in both plants and animals, has shown promise in mitigating Al toxicity in various plant species. This study aims to elucidate the underlying mechanism by which melatonin alleviates Al toxicity in alfalfa through a combined physiological and transcriptomic analysis. The results reveal that the addition of 5 μM melatonin significantly increased alfalfa root length by 48% and fresh weight by 45.4% compared to aluminum treatment alone. Moreover, the 5 μM melatonin application partially restored the enlarged and irregular cell shape induced by aluminum treatment, resulting in a relatively compact arrangement of alfalfa root cells. Moreover, MT application reduces Al accumulation in alfalfa roots and shoots by 28.6% and 27.6%, respectively. Additionally, MT plays a crucial role in scavenging Al-induced excess H2O2 by enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), consequently reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. More interestingly, the RNA-seq results reveal that MT application significantly upregulates the expression of xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH) and carbon metabolism-related genes, including those involved in the glycolysis process, as well as sucrose and starch metabolism, suggesting that MT application may mitigate Al toxicity by facilitating the binding of Al to the cell walls, thereby reducing intracellular Al accumulation, and improving respiration and the content of sucrose and trehalose. Taken together, our study demonstrates that MT alleviates Al toxicity in alfalfa by reducing Al accumulation and restoring redox homeostasis. These RNA-seq results suggest that the alleviation of Al toxicity by MT may occur through its influence on cell wall composition and carbon metabolism. This research advances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying MT's effectiveness in mitigating Al toxicity, providing a clear direction for our future investigations into the underlying mechanisms by which MT alleviates Al toxicity in alfalfa.

Evaluation of Lentilactobacillus parafarraginis A6-2 strain for aluminum removal and anti-inflammatory effects: implications for alleviating Al toxicity.

To assess the effectiveness of Lentilactobacillus parafarraginis A6-2 cell lysate for the removal of aluminum (Al), which induces neurotoxicity, and its protective effect at cellular level. The cell lysate of the selected L. parafarraginis A6-2 strain demonstrated superior Al removal compared to live or dead cells. The Al removal efficiency of L. parafarraginis A6-2 cell lysate increased with decreasing pH and increasing temperature, primarily through adsorption onto peptidoglycan. Neurotoxicity mitigation potential of L. parafarraginis A6-2 was evaluated using C6 glioma cells. C6 cells exposed with increasing concentration of Al led to elevated toxicity and inflammation, which were gradually alleviated upon treatment with L. parafarraginis A6-2. Moreover, Al-induced oxidative stress in C6 cells showed a concentration-dependent reduction upon treatment with L. parafarraginis A6-2. This study demonstrated that L. parafarraginis A6-2 strain, particularly in its lysate form, exhibited enhanced capability for Al removal. Furthermore, it effectively mitigated Al-induced toxicity, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

Physiological mechanisms of exogenous organic acids to alleviate aluminum toxicity in seedlings of mungbean, buckwheat, and rice

One of the major constraints for crop yield in acidic soils is the phytotoxicity of aluminum ions (Al3+), which primarily affects the roots. To mitigate the harmful effects of Al toxicity, plants use organic acids to chelate Al internally and externally. In this study, the effects of exogenous organic acids on Al toxicity in rice, mung bean, and buckwheat were investigated. Specifically, the study examined the ameliorative effect of three organic acids (oxalic acid, malic acid, and citric acid, each at a concentration of (100 μmol/L) on root elongation, fresh weight, Al content, organic acid key enzymes, and rhizosphere pH in hydroponic media containing (100 μmol/L) Al. The experimental results revealed species-specific responses to aluminum tolerance and the alleviating effects of different organic acids. Buckwheat was found to be the most aluminum-tolerant, followed by mung bean, while rice was the least tolerant. Exogenous application of oxalic acid promoted root elongation, increased root fresh weight, and enhanced the activity of the PEPC enzyme in mung bean. Malic acid, on the other hand, alleviated Al toxicity in rice by promoting root elongation, increasing root fresh weight, enhancing the activity of the PEPC enzyme, and decreasing the activity of the MDH enzyme. In buckwheat, citric acid application reduced Al toxicity by promoting root elongation, increasing root weight, and decreasing the activities of CS and GO enzymes. These findings indicate that different organic acids can reduce Al toxicity in different plant species by employing different physiological mechanisms.

Melatonin alleviates aluminum toxicity by regulating aluminum-responsive and nonresponsive pathways in hickory

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a significant constraint on agricultural productivity worldwide. Melatonin (MT) has been shown to alleviate Al toxicity in plants; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we employed a combination of physiological and molecular biology techniques to examine the role of MT in mitigating Al toxicity of hickory. We found that MT decreased the contents of cell wall pectin, hemicellulose, Al, and Al-induced massive reactive oxygen species accumulation in the roots of hickory. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that MT may alleviate root tip Al stress by regulating Al-responsive and nonresponsive pathways. Co-expression regulatory network and dual-luciferase receptor assays revealed that transcription factors, CcC3H12 and CcAZF2, responded to MT and significantly activated the expression of two cell wall pectin-related genes, CcPME61 and CcGAE6, respectively. Further, yeast one-hybrid and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) assays verified that CcC3H12 and CcAZF2 regulated CcPME61 and CcGAE6, respectively, by directly binding to their promoters. Overexpression of CcPME61 enhanced the Al sensitivity of Arabidopsis thaliana. Our results indicate that MT can improve Al tolerance of hickory via multiple pathways, which provides a new perspective for the study of the mechanism of MT in alleviating abiotic stress.

Silicon mediated redox homeostasis in the root-apex transition zone of rice plays a key role in aluminum tolerance

The supply of silicon (Si) mitigates the aluminum (Al) toxicity on plant root growth, while the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Transition zone (TZ) emerges as the Al-toxicity target of plant root apex. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of Si on redox homeostasis in root-apex TZ of rice seedlings under Al stress. Si alleviated Al toxicity as revealed by promotion of root elongation and less Al accumulation. In Si-deprived plants, treatment with Al altered the normal distribution of superoxide anion (O2·−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in root tip. Al induced a significant increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in root-apex TZ, resulting in the peroxidation of membrane lipid and loss of plasma membrane integrity in root-apex TZ. However, Si greatly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and enzymes involved in ascorbate–glutathione (AsA–GSH) cycle in root-apex TZ under Al stress, and enhanced AsA and GSH contents, which reduced ROS and callose contents, thereby reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) content and Evans blue uptake. These results allow to precise the changes of ROS in root-apex TZ after exposure to Al, and the positive role of Si in maintaining redox balance in root-apex TZ.

Mechanism of Al toxicity alleviation in acidic red soil by rice-straw hydrochar application and comparison with pyrochar

In the past decade, biochar has been widely regarded as a new type of soil conditioner that can effectively control soil acidification and alleviate Al toxicity. Hydrochar is identified as a more economical carbon material than pyrochar, but its effect on Al toxicity and the associated mechanism have not been studied. Thus, a two-stage indoor incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of rice-straw hydrochar (HC, application rate: 1/2/3 %) on maize seedling root growth, soil solution Al activity, soil exchangeable Al and pH buffering ability in acidic red soils from two sites. We also used pyrochar (PC, application rate: 3 %) produced from the same rice straw for comparison. Except for HC-1 %, both hydrochar and pyrochar addition significantly stimulated relative root elongation (136.36 % ~ 284.09 %), diminished the cell death ratio (27.96 % ~ 85.56 %) and Al content in root tips (18.80 % ~ 80.11 %) by decreasing the total Al content (44.78 % ~ 76.10 %) and the proportion of Al3+ species (27 % ~ 32 %) in soil solution. Hydrochar did not significantly promote the soil pH buffer capacity (pH-BC) or effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC), while PC-3 % did. The DOC (dissolved organic carbon) content of soil solution was dramatically elevated by 203.9 % ~ 783.2 % after hydrochar addition. Hydrochar mitigates Al activity in soil solution mainly through Al-DOC complexation and adsorption, thus suppressing the Al toxicity of maize roots. Hydrochar may be an economical soil amendment for ameliorating Al toxicity despite its overall alleviation effect on Al toxicity being lower than pyrochar.

Boron supply restores aluminum-blocked auxin transport by the modulation of PIN2 trafficking in the root apical transition zone.

The supply of boron (B) alleviates the toxic effects of aluminum (Al) on root growth; however, the mechanistic basis of this process remains elusive. This study filled this knowledge gap, demonstrating that boron modifies auxin distribution and transport in Al-exposed Arabidopsis roots. In B-deprived roots, treatment with Al induced an increase in auxin content in the root apical meristem zone (MZ) and transition zone (TZ), whereas in the elongation zone (EZ) the auxin content was decreased beyond the level required for adequate growth. These distribution patterns are explained by the fact that basipetal auxin transport from the TZ to the EZ was disrupted by Al-inhibited PIN-FORMED2 (PIN2) endocytosis. Experiments involving the modulation of protein biosynthesis by cycloheximide (CHX) and transcriptional regulation by cordycepin (COR) demonstrated that the Al-induced increase of PIN2 membrane proteins was dependent upon the inhibition of PIN2 endocytosis, rather than on the transcriptional regulation of the PIN2 gene. Experiments reporting on the profiling of Al3+ and PIN2 proteins revealed that the inhibition of endocytosis of PIN2 proteins was the result of Al-induced limitation of the fluidity of the plasma membrane. The supply of B mediated the turnover of PIN2 endosomes conjugated with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and thus restored the Al-induced inhibition of IAA transport through the TZ to the EZ. Overall, the reported results demonstrate that boron supply mediates PIN2 endosome-based auxin transport to alleviate Al toxicity in plant roots.

Effects of Elevated Aluminum Concentration and Distribution on Root Damage, Cell Wall Polysaccharides, and Nutrient Uptake in Different Tolerant Eucalyptus Clones.

Aluminized acidic soil can damage Eucalyptus roots and limit tree growth, hindering the productivity of Eucalyptus plantations. At present, the negative impacts of elevated aluminum (Al) on the cell morphology and cell wall properties of Eucalyptus root tip are still unclear. In order to investigate the responses of two different tolerant clones, Eucalyptus urophylla (G4) and Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla (G9), to Al toxicity, seedling roots were treated hydroponically with an Al solution, and the polysaccharide content in the root tip cell wall and the characteristics of programmed cell death were studied. The results show that the distribution of Al was similar in both clones, although G9 was found to be more tolerant to Al toxicity than G4. The Al3+ uptake of pectin in root tip cell walls was significantly higher in G4 than in G9. The root tip in G4 was obviously damaged, enlarged, thickened, and shorter; the root crown cells were cracked and fluffy; and the cell elongation area was squeezed. The lower cell wall polysaccharide content and PME activity may result in fewer carboxylic groups in the root tip cell wall to serve as Al-binding sites, which may explain the stronger Al resistance of G9 than G4. The uptake of nitrogen and potassium in G4 was significantly reduced after aluminum application and was lower than in G9. Al-resistant Eucalyptus clones may have synergistic pleiotropic effects in resisting high aluminum-low phosphorus stress, and maintaining higher nitrogen and potassium levels in roots may be an important mechanism for effectively alleviating Al toxicity.

Supplying amendments alleviates aluminum toxicity and regulates cadmium accumulation by spinach in strongly acidic soils

Al toxicity and Cd pollution are key limiting factors for agricultural production in the acidic soils in China. The application of amendments is an effective and promising measure for remediating strongly acidic Cd-contaminated soils. However, the information on applying amendments for alleviating Al toxicity and regulating plant Cd accumulation is still rare. Here, oyster shell (OS), red mud (RM), hydroxyapatite (HAP), and biochar (BC) at 30 g kg−1 were investigated for alleviating Al toxicity and decreasing Cd accumulation in spinach plants. The results showed that four amendments significantly increased soil pH, and reduced soil exchangeable Al3+ and DTPA-Cd, promoted spinach growth (P < 0.05). Al(OH)30 and Al-HA were the main forms of active Al in soil. The BC and OS were more effective to alleviate Al toxicity but significantly (P < 0.05) increased Cd accumulation in spinach. RM and HAP effectively reduced the uptake of Cd by spinach plants as well as alleviated Al toxicity (P < 0.05). Bivariate correlation analysis and the partial least squares path modeling analysis indicated that soil exchangeable Al3+ was the main limiting factor for biomass production. Our study demonstrated that HAP could significantly alleviate Al toxicity, promote spinach growth, and decrease Cd accumulation in strongly acidic Cd-contaminated soils. Besides, OS and BC effectively alleviated soil Al toxicity leading to promoting the growth of spinach. Compared with CK, RM treatment significantly reduced soil Cd bioavailability (61.2%) and decreased Cd concentration and uptake of spinach plants by 90.0% and 50.7%. These results indicated that RM could be used as an efficient amendment in Cd contaminated.

Effects of Liming on the Morphologies and Nutrients of Different Functional Fine Roots of Cunninghamia lanceolata Seedlings

Soil acidification is an important cause of the productivity decline of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook)—one of the most important timber species in China. Although liming is an effective measure for reversing the effects of soil acidification, the effects on the morphologies and nutrients of different functional roots remain ambiguous. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of liming on fine root traits of Chinese fir seedlings between two root function types (absorptive roots (AR) and transport roots (TR)). Chinese fir seedlings with equal performance were planted in each pot with two acidification soils (pH 3.6 and pH 4.3) and three levels of liming (0, 1000, and 4000 kg CaO ha−1). Our data showed that liming had no effect on the root biomass (RB) of AR and TR in mildly acidified soil, but it decreased the RB in severely acidified soil. Specific root length (SRL) of AR and TR were significantly increased by 24% and 27% with a high liming dose in mildly acidified soil, respectively. The specific root areas (SRA) of AR and TR were significantly increased by 10% and 22% with a high liming dose in mildly acidified soil, respectively. Furthermore, root N concentrations were significantly increased by 26% and 30% in AR and TR with a high liming dose in mildly acidified soil, respectively. Root P concentration of AR was significantly increased by 21% with a high liming dose in mildly acidified soil while root Ca concentration was significantly increased with all treatments. A similar trend was also observed in the Ca/Al ratio of roots. Both low and high doses of liming decreased the root Al concentration of AR by 26% and 31% in mildly acidified soil, respectively; however, there was no significant effect on TR in both soils. Our findings indicated that liming could alleviate Al toxicity to fine roots and increase root investment efficiency and absorption capacity. Liming also had coordinate effects on SRL, SRA, Root tissue density (RTD), N, P, Ca and Ca/Al between AR and TR. Our study suggested that to gain a comprehensive understanding of plant growth strategy, researchers in future studies must consider different functional roots rather than just the absorption part. Our results also revealed that the root system became more “acquisitive” due to the remediation of Al toxicity, which may be an important mechanism underlying the increment of the productivity of Chinese fir plantations undergoing liming.

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterisation of Wheat MATE Genes Reveals Their Roles in Aluminium Tolerance

The Multidrug and toxin efflux (MATE) gene family plays crucial roles in plant growth and development and response to adverse stresses. This work investigated the structural and evolutionary characteristics, expression profiling and potential functions involved in aluminium (Al) tolerance from a genome-wide level. In total, 211 wheat MATE genes were identified, which were classified into four subfamilies and unevenly distributed on chromosomes. Duplication analysis showed that fragments and tandem repeats played the main roles in the amplification of TaMATEs, and Type II functional disproportionation had a leading role in the differentiation of TaMATEs. TaMATEs had abundant Al resistance and environmental stress-related elements, and generally had a high expression level in roots and leaves and in response to Al stress. The 3D structure prediction by AlphaFold and molecular docking showed that six TaMATE proteins localised in the plasmalemma could combine with citrate via amino acids in the citrate exuding motif and other sites, and then transport citrate to soil to form citrate aluminium. Meanwhile, citrate aluminium formed in root cells might be transported to leaves by TaMATEs to deposit in vacuoles, thereby alleviating Al toxicity.

Unearthing the alleviatory mechanisms of hydrogen sulfide in aluminum toxicity in rice

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) improves aluminum (Al) resistance in rice, however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, treatment with 30-μM Al significantly inhibited rice root growth and increased the total Al content, apoplastic and cytoplasm Al concentration in the rice roots. However, pretreatment with NaHS (H2S donor) reversed these negative effects. Pretreatment with NaHS significantly increased energy production under Al toxicity conditions, such as by increasing the content of ATP and nonstructural carbohydrates. In addition, NaHS stimulated the AsA-GSH cycle to decrease the peroxidation damage induced by Al toxicity. Pretreatment with NaHS significantly inhibited ethylene emissions in the rice and then inhibited pectin synthesis and increased the pectin methylation degree to reduce cell wall Al deposition. The phytohormones indole-3-acetic and brassinolide were also involved in the alleviation of Al toxicity by H2S. The transcriptome results further confirmed that H2S alleviates Al toxicity by increasing the pathways relating to material and energy metabolism, redox reactions, cell wall components, and signal transduction. These findings improve our understanding of how H2S affects rice responses to Al toxicity, which will facilitate further studies on crop safety.

Silicon prevents aluminum from entering root tip by promoting formation of root border cells in rice

Root border cells (RBCs) and their mucilage are considered to play an important role in protecting root tip from aluminum (Al) toxicity, but their interactions with silicon (Si) under Al stress still remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effect of Si on the formation of RBCs under Al stress and the related detoxification mechanism in hydroponically grown rice (Oryza sativa L.). The results showed that Si could prevent the separation of RBCs from each other by increasing the degree of pectin methylesterification in root tip cell wall, thereby keeping more RBCs around the root tip. Also, Si maintained the viability of RBCs, increased the amount of mucilage, and reduced the content of total Al and free Al in root tips. Moreover, the RBCs accumulated more Al and Si simultaneously than root tip in the Al treatments with Si supply. Overall, these results indicated that Si reduced the toxicity of Al to RBCs through formation of Si–Al complex on the RBCs, thereby improving the viability of RBCs and promoting the secretion of mucilage. Concomitantly, Si, RBCs and their mucilage could form a protective sheath at the root tip, which prevented Al from diffusing into the root tip, thereby alleviating Al toxicity in rice root tips.

Physiological and Proteomic Analyses Reveal Effects of Putrescine-Alleviated Aluminum Toxicity in Rice Roots

The effects of putrescine on improving rice growth under aluminum (Al) toxicity conditions have been previously demonstrated, however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, treatment with 50μmol/L Al significantly decreased rice root growth and whole rice dry weight, inhibited Ca2+ uptake, decreased ATP synthesis, and increased Al, H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, whereas the application of putrescine mitigated these negative effects. Putrescine increased root growth and total dry weight of rice, reduced total Al content, decreased H2O2 and MDA contents by increasing antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase) activities, increased Ca2+ uptake and energy production. Proteomic analyses using data-independent acquisition successfully identified 7 934 proteins, and 59 representative proteins exhibiting fold-change values higher than 1.5 were randomly selected. From the results of the proteomic and biochemical analyses, we found that putrescine significantly inhibited ethylene biosynthesis and phosphorus uptake in rice roots, increased pectin methylation, decreased pectin content and apoplastic Al deposition in rice roots. Putrescine also alleviated Al toxicity by repairing damaged DNA and increasing the proteins involved in maintaining plasma membrane integrity and normal cell proliferation. These findings improve our understanding of how putrescine affects the rice response to Al toxicity, which will facilitate further studies on environmental protection, crop safety, innovations in rice performance and real-world production.

Silicon Application Induced Alleviation of Aluminum Toxicity in Xaraés Palisadegrass

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major abiotic constraint for agricultural production in acidic soils that needs a sustainable solution to deal with plant tolerance. Silicon (Si) plays important roles in alleviating the harmful effects of Al in plants. The genus Urochloa includes most important grasses and hybrids, and it is currently used as pastures in the tropical regions. Xaraés palisadegrass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés) is a forage that is relatively tolerant to Al toxicity under field-grown conditions, which might be explained by the great uptake and accumulation of Si. However, studies are needed to access the benefits of Si application to alleviate Al toxicity on Xaraés palisadegrass nutritional status, production, and chemical–bromatological composition. The study was conducted under greenhouse conditions with the effect of five Si concentrations evaluated (0, 0.3, 0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 mM) as well as with nutrient solutions containing 1 mM Al in two sampling dates (two forage cuts). The following evaluations were performed: number of tillers and leaves, shoot biomass, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Al, and Si concentration in leaf tissue, Al and Si concentration in root tissue, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content in Xaraés palisadegrass shoot. Silicon supply affected the relation between Si and Al uptake by increasing root Al concentration in detriment to Al transport to the leaves, thereby alleviating Al toxicity in Xaraés palisadegrass. The concentrations between 1.4 and 1.6 mM Si in solution decreased roots to shoots Al translocation by 259% (from 3.26 to 1.26%), which contributed to a higher number of leaves per plot and led to a greater shoot dry mass without affecting tillering. Xaraés palisadegrass could be considered one of the greatest Si accumulator plants with Si content in leaves above 4.7% of dry mass. In addition, Si supply may benefit nutrient-use efficiency with enhanced plant growth and without compromising the chemical–bromatological content of Xaraés palisadegrass.