Influence of aluminium toxicity on plant growth in wheat

The effect of aluminium on seedlings of fifteen wheat cultivars varying in their sensitivity toaluminium was investigated with different aluminium concentrations ranging from 0μM to 5000μM and with different time periods from 0hrs to 72hrs at pH 4.2. Aluminum, in its Al3+cationic form, is very inimical to agriculture, as it becomes toxic in nature at lower pH (below 5) which injures plant root cells and interfere nutrient and water uptake in crop plants; thus damage root system. With decrease in pH of the culture solution below 5, aluminium caused reduction in plant growth with cultivars RAJ 4120 and WH 711 exhibiting more pronounced alterations than RAJ 3077 and DBW 17. Similarly, when compared to 0hrs to 72hrs old plants and from lowest (10μM) to highest (5000μM) aluminium concentration, the seedlings of older age showed reduced net root/shoot growth, reduced relative root elongation rate, accumulated higher levels of aluminium, decreased relative water contentunder aluminium stress, with cultivars of RAJ 4120 and WH 711 being more affected than RAJ 3077 and DBW 17. This paper reports the results of the influence of aluminium toxicity among the sensitive and tolerant wheat cultivars on the basis of their performance in some biochemical characteristics.