Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Altered root growth and plant chemistry ofPinus sylvestris seedlings subjected to aluminum in nutrient solution

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Trees Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

One-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings were grown for 9 weeks in nutrient solutions containing 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mM aluminum nitrate (Al(NO3)3) at pH 4.2. Nine weeks exposure to Al significantly reduced total plant, shoot and root mass and caused a linear decline in proportional allocation of biomass to roots. Relative growth rate of roots declined to as low as zero. Aluminum treatment decreased calcium and magnesium uptake and increased Al content in roots and needles. After 3 weeks of exposure a 10–60% increase in total phenols in roots and a 20–40% increase in o-diphenols in roots and needles were noted. Roots affected by Al showed degeneration of meristematic cells, fewer cell divisions, deformation in cell walls and higher lignification and suberization. The majority of root apices were structurally similar to dormant roots, and a premature senescence of the entire root system was observed. Net photosynthetic rate after 6 weeks of treatment was negatively correlated with needle Al content and Al/Ca ratio (r < -0.9, P < 0.1). The results suggest that Scots pine may be more susceptible to Al than was expected based on previous experiments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ballantyne DJ (1973) Sulphite inhibition of ATP formation in plant mitochondria. Phytochemistry 12: 1207–1209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balsberg Påhlsson A-M (1992) Influence of nitrogen fertilization on minerals, carbohydrates, amino acids and phenolic compounds in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). Tree Physiol 10: 93–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergmann W (1983) Ernährungsstörungen bei Kulturpflanzen: Entstehung und Diagnose. Gustav Fischer, Jena

    Google Scholar 

  • Boudot JP, Becquer T, Merlet D, Rouiller J (1994) Aluminium toxicity in declining forests: a general overview with a seasonal assessment in a silver fir forest in the Vosges mountains (France). Ann Sci For 51: 27–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Broda B (1971) Methods of plant histochemistry (in Polish). PZWL, Warsaw

    Google Scholar 

  • Cumming JR, Weinstein LH (1990) Aluminium-mycorrhizal interactions in the physiology of pitch pine seedlings. Plant Soil 125: 7–18

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeKock PC, Vaughan D (1975) Effects of some chelating and phenolic substances on the growth of excised pea root segments. Planta 126: 187–195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dijk HFG van, Roelofs JGM (1988) Effect of excessive ammonium deposition on the nutrient status and condition of pine needles. Physiol Plant 73: 494–501

    Google Scholar 

  • Eldhuset T, Göranson A, Ingestad T (1987) Aluminum toxicity in forest tree seedlings. In: Hutchinson TC, Meema KM (eds) Effects of atmospheric pollutants on forests, wetlands and agricultural ecosystems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 401–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Esterbauer H, Grill D, Beck G (1975) Untersuchungen über Phenole in Nadeln vonPicea abies. Phyton (Horn, Austria) 17: 87–99

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feder N, O'Brien TP (1968) Plant microtechnique; some principles and new methods. Am J Bot 55: 123–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Field C, Mooney HA (1986) The photosynthesis-nitrogen relationship in wild plants. In: Givnish T (ed) On the economy of plant form and function. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 25–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Gamborg OL, Wetter LR, Neisch AC (1961) The role of plant phenolic compounds in the oxidation of reduced diphosphate nucleotide by peroxidase. Can J Biochem Physiol 39: 1113–1124

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giertych MJ, Karolewski P (1993) Changes in phenolic compounds in needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings following short term exposition to sulphur dioxide. Arbor Kornickie 38: 43–51

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • González A, Sanchez Tamws R, Rodriquez R (1991) Ethylene in relation to protein, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities during rooting in hazelnut cotyledons. Physiol Plant 83: 611–620

    Google Scholar 

  • Göransson A, Eldhuset TD (1991) Effects of aluminium on growth and nutrient uptake of smallPicea abies andPinus sylvestris plants. Trees 5: 136–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hecht-Buchholz C, Jorns CA, Keil P (1987) Effect of excess aluminium and manganese on Norway spruce seedlings as related to magnesium nutrition. J Plant Nutr 10: 1103–1110

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Helmisaari H-S (1990) Temporal variation in nutrient concentrations ofPinus sylvestris needles. Scan J For Res 5: 177–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Howell RK, Kremer DF (1973) The chemistry and physiology of pigmentation in leaves injured by air pollution. J Environ Quality 2: 243–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Janhunen S, Palomäki V, Holopainen T (1995) Aluminium causes nutrient imbalance and structural changes in the needles of Scots pine without inducing clear root injuries. Trees 9: 134–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen WA (1962) Botanical histochemistry; principles and practice. Freeman, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansen DA (1940) Plant microtechnique. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson G, Schaal LA (1957) Accumulation of phenolic substances and ascorbic acids in potato tuber tissue upon injury and their possible role in disease and resistance. Am Potato J 24: 200–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan DN, Green TH, Chappelka AH, Lockaby BG, Meldahl RS, Gjerstad DH (1991) Response of total tannins and phenolics in loblolly pine foliage exposed to ozone and acid rain. J Chem Ecol 17: 505–513

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keltjens WG, van Loenen E (1989) Effects of aluminium and mineral nutrition on growth and chemical composition of hydroponically grown seedlings of five different forest tree species. Plant Soil 119: 39–50

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koziol MJ, Jordan CF (1978) Changes in carbohydrate levels in red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) exposed to sulphur dioxide. J Exp Bot 29: 1037–1043

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto H, Hirasawa F, Torikai E, Takahashi E (1976) Location and absorption of aluminum in pea roots and its binding to nucleic acids. Plant Cell Physiol 17:127–137

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matzner E, Ulrich B (1984) Raten der Deposition, der internen Produktion und des Umsatzes von Protonen in Waldökosystemen. Z Pflanzenernaehr Bodenk 147: 290–308

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCormick LH, Steiner KC (1978) Variation in aluminium tolerance among six genera of trees. For Sci 24: 565–568

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin SB, Anderson CP, Edwards NT, Roy WK, Layton PA (1990) Seasonal patterns of photosynthesis and respiration of red spruce saplings from two elevations in declining southern Appalachian stands. Can J For Res 20: 485–495

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin SB, Anderson CP, Hanson PJ, Tjoelker MG, Roy WK (1991) Increased dark respiration and calcium deficiency of red spruce in relation to acidic deposition at high-elevation southern Appalachian Mountain sites. Can J For Res 21: 1234–1244

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reich PB, Walters MB, Ellsworth DS (1992) Leaf lifespan in relation to leaf, plant and stand characteristics among diverse ecosystems. Ecol Monogr 62: 365–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Reich PB, Oleksyn J, Tjoelker MG (1994) Relationship of aluminum and calcium to net CO2 exchange among diverse Scots pine provenances under pollution stress in Poland. Oecologia 97: 82–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Reich PB, Kloeppel B, Ellsworth DS, Walters MB (1995) Different photosynthesis-nitrogen relations in deciduous hardwood and evergreen coniferous tree species. Oecologia (in press)

  • Schaedle M, Thornton FC, Raynal DJ, Tepper HB (1989) Response of tree seedlings to aluminum. Tree Physiol 5: 337–356

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singleton VI, Rossi JA (1965) Colorimetry of total phenolics with phosphomolybdicphosphotungstic acid reagent. Am J Enol Vitic 16: 144–158

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tepper HB, Yang CS, Schaedle M (1989) Effect of aluminium on growth of root tips of honey locust and loblolly pine. Env Exp Bot 29: 165–173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thornton FC, Schaedle M, Raynal DJ (1986) Effect of aluminum on the growth of sugar maple in solution culture. Can J For Res 16: 892–896

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thornton FC, Schaedle M, Raynal DJ (1987) Effects of aluminum on red spruce seedlings in solution culture. Env Exp Bot 27: 489–498

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tomaszewski M (1961) A relationship between the phenol-phenolase system and the processes of respiration, formation of lignin and auxin inactivation in apricot and peach shoots (in Polish). Arbor Kornickie 6: 169–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman RA, Humphreys FR, Ryan PJ (1986) Effect of varying solution ratios of Al and Ca on the uptake of phosphorus by Pinus radiata. Plant Soil 96: 109–123

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich B (1983) Soil acidity and its relation to acid deposition. In: Ulrich B, Pankrath J (eds) Effects of accumulation of air pollutants in forest ecosystems. Reidel, Dortrecht, pp 127–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkins DA, Hodson MJ (1989) The effects of aluminium andPaxillus involutus fr. on the growth of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.]. New Phytol 113: 225–232

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolf H (1989) Untersuchungen an kronengeschädigten Kiefern (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Nordost-Bayern. Teil IV: Nadelelementgehalte. Forstarchiv 60: 126–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Yee-Meiler D (1977) Phenole als Indikatoren metabolisher Störungen bei fluorexponierten Waldbäumen. Eidg Anst Forstl Versuchswes Mitt 53:203–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Zieslin N, Abolitz M (1994) Leakage of phenolic compounds from plant roots: effects of pH, Ca2+ and NaCl. Sci Hortic 58: 303–314

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zobel A, Nighswander J (1991) Accumulation of phenolic compounds in necrotic areas of Austrian and red pine needles after spraying with sulphuric acid: a possible bioindicator of air pollution. New Phytol 117: 565–574

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Dendrology, Parkowa 5, PL-62-035, Kórnik, Poland

    J. Oleksyn, P. Karolewski, M. J. Giertych & A. Werner

  2. Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, 115 Green Hall, 1530 N. Cleveland Avenue, 55108, St. Paul, MN, USA

    M. G. Tjoelker & P. B. Reich

Authors
  1. J. Oleksyn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Karolewski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. J. Giertych
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Werner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. G. Tjoelker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. P. B. Reich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oleksyn, J., Karolewski, P., Giertych, M.J. et al. Altered root growth and plant chemistry ofPinus sylvestris seedlings subjected to aluminum in nutrient solution. Trees 10, 135–144 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02340765

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02340765

Key words

Search

Navigation