Effect of aluminium on plant growth and metabolism

Aluminium toxicity is one of the major factors that limit plant growth and develop­ment in many acid soils. Root cells plasma membrane, particularly of the root apex, seems to be a major target of A1 toxicity. However, strong interaction of A13+ , the main A1 toxic form, with oxygen donor ligands (proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides) re­sults in the inhibition of cell division, cell extension, and transport. Although the iden­tification of A1 tolerance genes is under way, the mechanism of their expression re­mains obscure.