Mutational loss of Arabidopsis SLOW WALKER2 results in reduced endogenous spermine concomitant with increased aluminum sensitivity

Arbuscular mycorrhiza augments aluminum tolerance in white clover (Trifoliumrepens L.) by strengthening the ascorbate-glutathione cycle and phosphorus acquisition

The ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle is essential for detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS) under environmental stresses. The toxicity of aluminum (Al) limits the growth and performance of cultivated plants in acidic soil. However, there is limited information available on the relationship between arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and the AsA-GSH cycle in host plants under Al stress. This study aimed to examine the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), specifically Funneliformis mosseae, on the growth, antioxidant enzymes, components of the AsA-GSH cycle, and stress response gene expressions in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) under Al stress. Our findings demonstrate that AMF inoculation significantly reduced Al accumulation and increased phosphorus (P) content in the roots of white clover, thereby promoting plant biomass accumulation and mycorrhizal colonization under Al stress. AMF effectively scavenged Al-induced ROS (H2O2 and O2-) by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), as well as the components of the AsA-GSH cycle (e.g., enzymes and antioxidants) in the leaves and roots of white clover plants. Additionally, the mitigating effect of AMF was associated with the upregulation of genes involved in P transport (PHO1-2 and PHT1-7), the AsA-GSH pathway (GST-2 and APX-2), and Al stress (ALMT1) in white clover roots compared to control plants. Principal component analysis revealed that 65.9% of the total variance was explained by the first principal component. Dry mass showed a positive correlation with POD and P content, while exhibiting a highly negative correlation with ROS, antioxidant physiology index, Al content, and the expression of related genes in white clover. Overall, this study suggests that AMF enhances the tolerance of white clover to Al stress by improving P uptake and strengthening the AsA-GSH cycle.

Graphical Abstract

Identification of an ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter Implicated in Aluminum Tolerance in Wild Soybean (Glycine soja)

The toxicity of aluminum (Al) in acidic soil limits global crop yield. The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter-like gene superfamily has functions and structures related to transportation, so it responds to aluminum stress in plants. In this study, one half-size ABC transporter gene was isolated from wild soybeans (Glycine soja) and designated GsABCI1. By real-time qPCR, GsABCI1 was identified as not specifically expressed in tissues. Phenotype identification of the overexpressed transgenic lines showed increased tolerance to aluminum. Furthermore, GsABCI1 transgenic plants exhibited some resistance to aluminum treatment by ion translocation or changing root components. This work on the GsABCI1 identified the molecular function, which provided useful information for understanding the gene function of the ABC family and the development of new aluminum-tolerant soybean germplasm.

Transcriptional Regulation of Aluminum-Tolerance Genes in Higher Plants: Clarifying the Underlying Molecular Mechanisms

Aluminum (Al) rhizotoxicity is one of the major environmental stresses that decrease global food production. Clarifying the molecular mechanisms underlying Al tolerance may contribute to the breeding of Al-tolerant crops. Recent studies identified various Al-tolerance genes. The expression of these genes is inducible by Al. Studies of the major Arabidopsis thaliana Al-tolerance gene, ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA ALUMINUM-ACTIVATED MALATE TRANSPORTER 1 (AtALMT1), which encodes an Al-activated malate transporter, revealed that the Al-inducible expression is regulated by a SENSITIVE TO PROTON RHIXOTOXICITY 1 (STOP1) zinc-finger transcription factor. This system, which involves STOP1 and organic acid transporters, is conserved in diverse plant species. The expression of AtALMT1 is also upregulated by several phytohormones and hydrogen peroxide, suggesting there is crosstalk among the signals involved in the transcriptional regulation of AtALMT1. Additionally, phytohormones and reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate various transcriptional responses, including the expression of genes related to increased Al tolerance or the suppression of root growth under Al stress conditions. For example, Al suppressed root growth due to abnormal accumulation of auxin and cytokinin. It activates transcription of TRYPTOPHAN AMINOTRANSFERASE OF ARABIDOPSIS 1 and other phytohormone responsive genes in distal transition zone, which causes suppression of root elongation. On the other hand, overexpression of Al inducible genes for ROS-detoxifying enzymes such as GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE, PEROXIDASE, SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE enhances Al resistance in several plant species. We herein summarize the complex transcriptional regulation of an Al-inducible genes affected by STOP1, phytohormones, and ROS.

Higher sterol content regulated by CYP51 with concomitant lower phospholipid content in membranes is a common strategy for aluminium tolerance in several plant species

Several studies have shown that differences in lipid composition and in the lipid biosynthetic pathway affect the aluminium (Al) tolerance of plants, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying these differences. Phospholipids create a negative charge at the surface of the plasma membrane and enhance Al sensitivity as a result of the accumulation of positively charged Al(3+) ions. The phospholipids will be balanced by other electrically neutral lipids, such as sterols. In the present research, Al tolerance was compared among pea (Pisum sativum) genotypes. Compared with Al-tolerant genotypes, the Al-sensitive genotype accumulated more Al in the root tip, had a less intact plasma membrane, and showed a lower expression level of PsCYP51, which encodes obtusifoliol-14α-demethylase (OBT 14DM), a key sterol biosynthetic enzyme. The ratio of phospholipids to sterols was higher in the sensitive genotype than in the tolerant genotypes, suggesting that the sterol biosynthetic pathway plays an important role in Al tolerance. Consistent with this idea, a transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana line with knocked-down AtCYP51 expression showed an Al-sensitive phenotype. Uniconazole-P, an inhibitor of OBT 14DM, suppressed the Al tolerance of Al-tolerant genotypes of maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmark cv. Currency). These results suggest that increased sterol content, regulated by CYP51, with concomitant lower phospholipid content in the root tip, results in lower negativity of the plasma membrane. This appears to be a common strategy for Al tolerance among several plant species.

Molecular and physiological analysis of Al³⁺ and H⁺ rhizotoxicities at moderately acidic conditions

Al³⁺ and H⁺ toxicities predicted to occur at moderately acidic conditions (pH [water] = 5-5.5) in low-Ca soils were characterized by the combined approaches of computational modeling of electrostatic interactions of ions at the root plasma membrane (PM) surface and molecular/physiological analyses in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Root growth inhibition in known hypersensitive mutants was correlated with computed {Al³⁺} at the PM surface ({Al³⁺}(PM)); inhibition was alleviated by increased Ca, which also reduced {Al³⁺}(PM) and correlated with cellular Al responses based on expression analysis of genes that are markers for Al stress. The Al-inducible Al tolerance genes ALUMINUM-ACTIVATED MALATE TRANSPORTER1 and ALUMINUM SENSITIVE3 were induced by levels of {Al³⁺}(PM) too low to inhibit root growth in tolerant genotypes, indicating that protective responses are triggered when {Al³⁺}(PM) was below levels that can initiate injury. Modeling of the H⁺ sensitivity of the SENSITIVE TO PROTON RHIZOTOXICITY1 knockout mutant identified a Ca alleviation mechanism of H⁺ rhizotoxicity, possibly involving stabilization of the cell wall. The phosphatidate phosphohydrolase1 (pah1) pah2 double mutant showed enhanced Al susceptibility under low-P conditions, where greater levels of negatively charged phospholipids in the PM occur, which increases {Al³⁺}(PM) through increased PM surface negativity compared with wild-type plants. Finally, we found that the nonalkalinizing Ca fertilizer gypsum improved the tolerance of the sensitive genotypes in moderately acidic soils. These findings fit our modeling predictions that root toxicity to Al³⁺ and H⁺ in moderately acidic soils involves interactions between both toxic ions in relation to Ca alleviation.